This study was intended to address the issue of convergence between informants (mother, father, regular teacher and special education teacher, whenever applicable) when assessing the temperament of children between 2 and 7 years old. The study was based on a sample of 138 children, distributed into four groups with different developmental characteristics: Down syndrome, Autism, Premature Birth, and Normal Development. Informants filled in the Temperament Assessment Battery for Children - Revised in its parents' or teachers' versions. Whereas correlations between assessments made by adults of different contexts were low, high correlations were found between informants who observe the child in the same context. Results are discussed in terms of their possible implications for the assessment of children's temperament.
Inter-rater agreement; rating scales; temperament; preschooler
