Tests for Infants, Disabilities and Special Populations

How do tests for infants and special populations compare to Binet/Wechsler scales?

Less psychometrically robust; weaker manuals and scoring procedures.

Are IQ scores from these special tests comparable to standard scales?

No — they are not directly comparable to major intelligence tests.

What is a major strength and limitation of these tests?

High specificity—great for targeted use, but not for broad cognitive assessment.

What populations are these tests designed for?

Individuals with language, sensory, physical limitations, or very young children.

In what contexts are these tests most useful?

As supplements, screens, or in time-limited settings.

Do these tests require much training?

Yes—many (e.g., Bayley Scales of Infant Development–III) require extensive training.

What key skills must assessors have for all cognitive assessments?

Rapport building, recognising developmental concerns, interpreting findings accurately.

What can academic assessments help determine about ability?

Whether academic issues align with or deviate from intellectual abilities.

What individual insights can academic assessments provide?

Identify strengths/weaknesses, underperformance/overachievement, and behavioural links.

How do academic assessments support intervention planning?

By helping generate/test hypotheses and guide targeted educational interventions.

Can academic assessments aid in diagnosing conditions?

Yes—they can support diagnosis of learning disorders or related problems.

What is the age range for the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale?

3 days to 4 weeks

What does the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale assess?

Newborn competence (27 behavioural & 20 elicited responses)

Does the Brazelton scale measure intelligence?

No—it does not measure intelligence.

What are the limitations of the Brazelton scale?

No norms, poor test-retest reliability

Rather than as an intelligence test what is the Brazelton Scale mainly used for?

research

What is the age range for the Gesell Developmental Scale?

2.3 months to 6.3 years

What does the Gesell Developmental Scale assess?

Developmental status across 5 areas (produces a Developmental Quotient or DQ)

Does the Gesell Scale measure intelligence?

No—it does not measure intelligence.

What are limitations of the Gesell Scale?

Inadequate norms, no reliability, scoring issues.

What is the age range for the Bayley Scales of Infant Development?

1 to 42 months

What does the Bayley Scale assess?

Cognitive and motor functions (mental & motor scales)

Does the Bayley Scale measure intelligence?

No—it does not measure intelligence.

What is a key strength of the Bayley Scale?

Strong norms, good reliability

While it does not measure intelligence the Bayley Scales of Infant Development are able to what?

Useful predictor of developmental delays and intellectual disability.

What is the age range for the Cattell Infant Intelligence Scale?

2 to 30 months

What does the Cattell Scale assess?

Infant intelligence using an age scale (IQ via mental age)

What is the origin of the Cattell Scale?

A downward extension of the Binet scale.

What are the limitations of the Cattell Scale?

Unrepresentative norms, no reliability, outdated, and does not measure intelligence effectively.

What are the 5 domains assessed by the Bayley-IV?

Cognitive, language, motor, socioemotional, and adaptive development.

Example of a task in the cognitive domain for Bayley Scale of Development?

Attention to familiar/unfamiliar objects or searching for a fallen object.

Example of a task in the language domain for Bayley Scale of Development?

naming objects/ people

Example of a task in the motor domain for Bayley Scale of Development?

grasping, stacking blocks

Is the Bayley-IV well-standardized?

Yes, it has a large and diverse standardization sample.

What types of scores does the Bayley-IV provide?

Scaled scores, composite scores, percentile ranks, and growth scores.

What are the psychometric strengths of the Bayley-IV?

High reliability and strong construct validity.

How is the Bayley-IV used in practice?

To determine developmental functioning and guide management plans for children with developmental delays.

What is the Bayley-IV's role in early intervention?

Supports early diagnosis, monitoring progress, and tailoring interventions.

What is a limitation of the Bayley-IV?

It has little predictive power for normal-range intelligence.

What is the age range for the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities?

2–8 years

What is the main purpose of the McCarthy Scales?

Provides a measure of children’s cognitive abilities

In regards to the Macarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities what is the General Cognitive Index (GCI)?

A composite of 15 scales assessing how well a child integrates learning and adapts to tasks.

What are the psychometric strengths of the McCarthy Scales?

Good reliability and validity (factorial & predictive)

What is a key limitation of the McCarthy Scales?

They are outdated.

What is the age range for the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children?

3–18 years

What is the purpose of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children?

To assess cognitive ability in a culturally fair way for all children.

How many scales does the KABC include?

18 individual scales

What are the 5 global scales in the KABC?

Sequential processing, Simultaneous processing, Learning, Planning, Knowledge

What theory is the KABC based on?

Luria’s Neuropsychological theory (considered problematic by some); aligns with CHC theory (broad and narrow abilities)

What are the psychometric strengths of the KABC?

Good factorial validity and reliability

What is the age range for the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale?

3–12 years

Who is the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale designed for?

Children with sensory, physical, or language disabilities

What does the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale assess?

General reasoning ability

What is the test format of the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale?

Picture format – “Which one doesn’t belong?” (Multiple choice, untimed)

What are the psychometric strengths of the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale?

Excellent norms; good split-half and test–retest reliability

Is the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale a verbal or non-verbal test?

Non-verbal

What is a major limitation of the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale?

It is Outdated

What is the age range for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5?

2—90 years

Who is the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5 useful for?

Individuals with physical or language disabilities

What ability does the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5 measure?

Receptive hearing vocabulary (verbal IQ)

What is the test format of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5 ?

Picture format – “Show me a ____” (Multiple choice)

What are the psychometric strengths of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5?

Excellent norms; good split-half, alternate-form, and test–retest reliability

What is a key limitation of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5?

It only measures one aspect of ability

What is the age range for the Leiter International Performance Test-3?

3–75+ years

Who is the Leiter International Performance Test-3 designed for?

Individuals with pervasive developmental disorders

What does the Leiter International Performance Test-3 assess?

General intelligence (g), fluid reasoning (Gf), visualisation, memory, and attention

What is the format of the Leiter International Performance Test-3?

Performance-based tasks

What are the psychometric strengths of the Leiter International Performance Test-3?

Good reliability, validity, and strong norms

Is oral language required for the Leiter International Performance Test-3?

No, it is entirely non-verbal

What age range is the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III designed for?

5–12 years, 11 months

What does the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III assess?

Spoken & written language; identifies input, processing, and output problems

What theoretical model underlies the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III?

Information processing view of language

What are the 10 composite domains of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III?

General language, spoken language, written language, semantic, grammar, phonology, comprehension, spelling, sight-symbol, sound-symbol processing

What is the norming sample of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III based on?

US norms, addressing gender and ethnicity

What is the reliability of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III like?

High internal consistency, stability, and inter-scorer reliability

What types of validity does the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities–III demonstrate?

Valid for both spoken and written language

What does the Woodcock–Johnson IV assess?

General intelligence, cognitive factors, scholastic aptitude, oral language, and achievement

What theoretical model does the Woodcock–Johnson IV align with?

Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory

What are the three coordinated batteries in the Woodcock–Johnson IV?

• Tests of Cognitive Abilities

• Tests of Achievement

• Tests of Oral Language

How reliable is the Woodcock–Johnson IV?

High internal consistency

What is a key limitation of the Woodcock–Johnson IV?

Poor alignment with the CHC model of intelligence