This study examined the validity and reliability of the Pre-school Behaviour Checklist (PBCL) for Turkish nursery school children. Data were obtained from 902 children, 24 to 82 months old, attending state or private nursery schools. Findings suggested that the PBCL has psychometric properties comparable to the British sample and could be used…

Describes short-form versions of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) and their development, summarizes newly available normative data and psychometric properties of the instruments, and discusses research and clinical applications. (Author/VWL)

Uses exploratory factor-analysis and confirmatory factor-analysis to identify and cross-validate the factorial structure underlying two group intelligence tests and two group-Piagetian tests. Establishes a high degree of overlap between Piagetian and psychometric intelligence tests, most likely because both types of test appear to measure…

The psychometric properties of the Hopelessness Scale for Children (A. Kazdin et al., 1983) were examined for children and adolescents with mental retardation or a learning disability. Analyses of scores from 261 students shows a factor structure almost identical to the original structure and scale scores of adequate validity. (SLD)

Suggests a comprehensive approach to evaluation of allegations of sexual abuse by nonverbal autistic people via facilitated communication. Urges specialized psychometric testing, use of an alternative to "message passing" in facilitated communication, and systematic analysis of the allegations. (DB)

The utility of the Test for Severe Impairment was studied with 60 older persons who had Down Syndrome. Construct validity, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability were established for the full study group and for subgroups based on degree of mental retardation and dementia status. Some possible applications and limitations of the test…

The interrelation of 4 achievement tests was investigated with 202 students (mean age 11) with specific learning disabilities. Although, in general, achievement subtests claiming to measure the same academic construct were moderately to strongly related, significant mean differences were present on several measures claiming to measure the same…

Analysis of teacher and parent ratings of 369 children with developmental disabilities on the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form provided normative data (means, T scores, and percentiles). Age influenced three of eight subscales on the parent ratings and one subscale on the teacher ratings. Gender did not influence subscale scores. (Author/DB)

This article considers issues concerning the use of IQ tests for identifying children with learning and/or language disabilities and concludes that the historically prominent role of IQ tests for identification of these children is conceptually and psychometrically unwarranted. (DB)

The Feelings about School (FAS) measure was used to examine factors associated with kindergartners' and first-graders' feelings about school. Findings provided support for the reliability and validity of the FAS for both groups. Students' feelings about school were associated with their academic skills, especially for first-graders. Relation of…

This study investigated the stability of the four factors in the Quality of Life Questionnaire, an instrument often used in quality of life research for people with intellectual disabilities. Only three of the four factors were found to be stable, raising potential concern over the use of the measure in assessing service providers' effectiveness.…

This study obtained construct (factorial) validity, internal consistency reliability, and 1-year criterion coefficients for scores from the College Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Response Evaluation (CARE), an evaluation tool examining ADHD behaviors as reported by college students and their parents. Among the CARE variables,…

Investigated the psychometric properties of the Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire (F. Kier and others, 1998), a measure of Jungian personality types that uses normative items. Results from 328 Hispanic high school students show generally favorable score integrity. (SLD)

Reports on a sample of participants who completed a stress narrative, a measure of coping styles, and a measure of emotional distress. Findings suggest that compared with secure attachment, preoccupied attachment was associated with higher levels of intrusive psychological symptoms and higher levels of overall psychological distress, although…

Four independent samples of children were used to study the reliability and validity of the Writing Essential Skill Screener, a measure designed to screen primary grade children at risk for writing difficulties. Among findings was that the measure is comprised of two dimensions, writing and name writing, that the factor structure did not fit the…