On the validity of social skills assessments: An analysis of role-play and ward staff ratings of social behavior in a maximum security setting.

Abstract
While extensive use has been made of simulated interactions in the assessment and treatment of social skill, few studies have demonstrated their external validity. The present study assessed the social skill of 64 male patients in a maximum security psychiatric hospital. Assertion and conversational role-plays were videotaped and rated on a variety of social skill dimensions. Ward staff rated the subject''s social behaviour on the Socialization Level Scale (Aumack, 1962) and the Social Contact and Communication subscales of the MACC Behaviour Adjustment Scale (Ellsworth, 1971). Overall social skill and a number of relatively complex social skill dimensions in both assertion and conversation role-plays correlated significantly with the in vivo measures. The results were interpreted as supporting the external validity of role-played interactions in the assessment of social skill.

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