Effectiveness of the Ppvt-r in tHe Screening of Young Gifted Children

Abstract

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Form L-M, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R), Form M, were administered to 100 preschool, kindergarten, and first grade children (ages 3 years, 10 months to 6 years, 11 months). The sample contained a high proportion of children who were perceived by parents as being above average or intellectually gifted. The mean PPVT-R standard score for this referral sample was 111.43 (SD = 13.86) and the mean Stanford-Binet IQ score was 123.72 ( SD = 16.79). Analysis of the results indicated a correlation between the instruments of .58, and the mean scores were significantly different on the two measures ( p < .0001). Examination of the data revealed that differences were greater for children at the upper IQ ranges (120 +) than at the lower ranges. Based on the results of this study, it appears that the efficacy of the PPVT-R as a screening instrument for the identification of young gifted children is questionable if conventional intelligence measures such as the Stanford-Binet are to be used as a diagnostic criterion.