This paper discusses the need for screening programs to identify seriously emotionally disturbed students and describes the development and trial of a screening instrument for identifying probable cases from among possible cases. The Quick Screening Inventory (QSI) is a brief, easy-to-use instrument that is directly related to the definition of…

This introduction to a special section provides the basic definitions and presents the measurement approaches and data analytic techniques that are collectively referred to as chaos theory. The conceptualization and assessment of unstable behavioral disorders can be strengthened by incorporating elements of chaos theory. (SLD)