RESEARCH NOTE - THE TEST-RETEST STABILITY OF THE 5 MINUTE SPEECH SAMPLE IN PARENTS OF DISADVANTAGED, MINORITY CHILDREN

The test-retest stability of the Five Minute Speech Sample, a brief measure of Expressed Emotion (EE), was established in a community sample of predominantly low income, ethnic minority families with children aged from 3 to 14 years. Significant stability was established when Borderline responses were included in the scoring. There was some interchange between High-EE and Borderline-EE, but none of the time one Low-EE respondent gave a second speech sample that included a higher level of EE. Both English and Spanish speaking subjects had stable scores.