Assessing the reliability and validity of SAA RED, an interpersonal interaction model designed to assist those with Asperger's Syndrome

SAA RED, an interpersonal interaction model primarily based on communication theories, was created to assist individuals on the autism spectrum to build and maintain relationships. The purpose of study was to investigate the internal and external validity of SAA RED in order to better assess SAA RED's worth. IDEA 2004 states that teacher preparation should include "the use of scientifically based instructional practices, to the maximum extent possible;" (IDEA 2004, §682(c)(5)(E)). The concept of scientifically based implies that these practices have been shown to have strong reliability and validity. Reliability refers to the confidence one can have that the instrument will have the same results with little variation over time demonstrated with stability of results (Frey, Botan, Kreps, 2000; Overton, 2003). Validity seeks to discover how well the assessment measures what it is supposed to measure. Within validity scores one can test for internal and external validity. Internal validity discovers whether the model was "designed and conducted such that it leads to accurate findings about the phenomena being investigated for the particular group of people" (Frey, et al., 2000, p. 109). While external validity answers the question "how generalizable are the results?" (Frey, et al., 2000). In order for a program to be generalizable, the program must be replicable.