Adaptations of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories

[Dale, Philip S.]

> The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) Board is gratified by the research and clinical usefulness of the CDI instruments, and welcomes their adaptation into as many of the world> '> s languages as possible (see http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/cdi/ for a current list). It is important that adaptations of the CDI adhere to shared standards and procedures that make them genuinely comparable to the original and thus insure some degree of coherence and consistency across versions. Furthermore, given the extensive work required to develop an adequate adaptation, it is important that appropriate academic and other resources be available for the project, and that duplication be avoided. For these reasons, the CDI Board has followed a policy of authorizing specific adaptations of the CDI. We have recently updated this policy, and a copy is pasted below. Please note the changes with respect to point #2,  review and authorization of the term "MacArthur-Bates CDI" or an equivalent phrase, and point #3,  issues that arise when an adaptation is to be commercially published. Also note that these changes are not intended to be retrospective; they will apply only to adaptations in progress or developed in the future. Finally, note that I will be the contact person for the CDI Board with respect to adaptations.
> Thank you.
> 
> Philip S. Dale, Professor and Chair
> Communication Science and Disorders
> 303 Lewis Hall
> University of Missouri-Columbia
> Columbia, MO 65211
> tel: 573-882-1934
> fax: 573-884-8686
> email: dalep at health.missouri.edu
> 
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Guidelines for Authorized Adaptations of the 
MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories
February, 2005


The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) Board is gratified by the research and clinical usefulness of the CDI instruments, and welcomes their adaptation into as many of the world's languages as possible.  However, it is important that adaptations of the CDI adhere to shared standards and procedures that make them genuinely comparable to the original and thus insure some degree of coherence and consistency across versions. Furthermore, given the extensive work required to develop an adequate adaptation, it is important that appropriate academic and other resources be available for the project, and that duplication be avoided. For these reasons, the CDI Board authorizes specific adaptations of the CDI, using the following guidelines:

A.  The research team should have appropriate competence and resources for generating a successful adaptation, including norming and validation. We encourage collaboration among researchers in these projects.

B.  The proposed adaptation should contain the major structure categories that are in the original.  Specifically, adaptations of the CDI:Words & Gestures should assess receptive and expressive vocabulary and gestures.  Adaptations of the CDI:Words & Sentences should assess expressive vocabulary and grammar, the latter in a format appropriate to the structure of the language. Other components of the CDIs are optional, as are added components not in the English CDIs.

C.  Adaptations should provide unique content above and beyond previously authorized CDIs.  Note that CDI versions covering a closely related language or an additional dialect can meet this criterion. For example, we have authorized adaptations for Mandarin and Cantonese versions of Chinese; for German and Austrian German; and for several of the closely related languages of Spain. The Romance languages of Spain are an informative example: Spanish (separate from Mexican Spanish), Galician, and Catalan each constitute a separate and unique project.

Both parent report and vocabulary checklists have long histories antedating the development of the CDI, and nothing here precludes the development of qualitatively different instruments along other lines. Those instruments, however, should not be characterized as MacArthur or MacArthur-Bates CDIs. 

Investigators interested in developing an authorized adaptation of the CDI should follow these steps:

1.  Describe the proposed project, addressing the guidelines listed above, and submit this proposal to the MacArthur-Bates CDI Board.  Philip Dale (dalep at health.missouri.edu <mailto:dalep at health.missouri.edu>) is the contact person for these requests. The request should include
	- a statement of the nature of the proposed adaptation
	- names and vitas for the principal authors
	- an approximate timetable
The CDI Board will provide written authorization of the project and is happy to maintain contact during the development period, if the research team would find consultation useful. 

2.  When the adaptation is complete, a copy should be sent to the MacArthur-Bates CDI Board (again via Philip Dale) for final approval. Only with this final approval, provided in writing, is use of the term "MacArthur-Bates CDI" or an equivalent phrase permitted.  Approved adaptations will be listed on the CDI website (<http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/cdi/>) with links to the instrument and to the adaptation team 

3.  Authors of approved versions who wish to explore commercial publication of their MacArthur-titled instruments must obtain explicit, written permission from the CDI Board, holders of the CDI copyright. This permission will normally be granted automatically, if the previous steps have been followed. Authors must also notify Brookes Publishers of their plans. Brookes may offer to publish the adaptation, or to assist in identifying and contracting with an appropriate publisher, as they have extensive experience in international publishing. However, authors are free to make publication arrangements as they choose. A nominal licensing fee for use of the MCDI name may be charged by Brookes. In cases where the commercially published manual for the adaptation includes a substantial amount of material translated from the original MCDI manual, an additional royalty may be charged. All authorizations for publication by the CDI Board are for specific adaptations whose development has been previously authorized, and have no implications for other adaptations.  [Note: these requirements for consultation with the CDI Board and Brookes are not intended to be retroactive; they do not apply to adaptations that were published before the end of 2004.]