Simplifying The Vineland-3: Assisting Raters, Reducing Burden, And Improving Data Quality

By Joan Busner, PhD, Margot Oakley, MSN, Elizabeth Jones, MA, Samantha Silverman, MS, MPH

The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (VABS-3) is a key tool for assessing adaptive behavior across multiple domains, frequently used in clinical trials for conditions such as autism and cognitive delays. However, administering the traditional paper-based Vineland-3 is complex, requiring multiple manual calculations and frequent reference to a scoring manual, leading to potential errors and variability. To address these challenges, Signant Health developed electronic versions of both Vineland-II and Vineland-3, in collaboration with Pearson. These digital tools reduce rater burden through built-in prompts, item-specific scoring guidance, and automated calculations, improving data accuracy and consistency. Customizable features allow protocols to tailor administration based on participant age or study needs.