1. any standardized assessment protocol with established psychometric properties used to document and quantify everyday performance of skills necessary for personal independence and social responsibility, consistent with cultural expectations (see adaptive behavior). An example is the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales.

2. any protocol assessing behavioral and social performance that is based on developmental norms, with domains structured in developmental sequence or degree of ascending task complexity or difficulty.

3. a component of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.