Behavioral adjustment in the U.S. elementary school: Cross-validation of a person-oriented typology of risk

Cluster analysis is a popular technique in the social sciences for classifying subjects into smaller, homogenous groups; however, cluster solutions are not often externally replicated. This study externally replicated the seven-cluster solution found by the BASC TRS-C Norm sample. External replication was conducted on two independent samples of children between the ages of 6 and 11. Replication was shown by three methods: (a) independent cluster analysis, (b) cross-classification among grouping procedures, and (c) relationships between disciplinary actions and cluster membership. Results showed that the seven-cluster behavioral typology of child behavior could be replicated. Implications for future use of the behavioral typology are discussed.