Effects of Place of Testing on the Peabody Picture voca Scores of Disadvantaged Head Start and Non-Head Start Children

Abstract

SEITZ, VICTORIA; ABELSON, WILLA D.; LEVINE, ELIZABETH; and ZIGLER, EDWARD. Effects of Place of Testing on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Scores of Disadvantaged Head Start and Non-Head Start Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1975, 46, 481-486. Disadvantaged children were tested on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test either in their own homes or away from home in an office or schoolroom. As predicted, the overall testing environment was a significant factor influencing the test performance of disadvantaged children who had not attended a Head Start program. Contrary to expectation, however, these children performed more poorly, rather than better, when they were tested at home. Children who were attending a Head Start program performed equivalently regardless of the location of testing. It was concluded that the nature of the testing environment is among the factors which influence the test performance of disadvantaged children and that the Head Start experience had influenced children to perform more optimally under conditions which were debilitating for children who had not attended Head Start. Interpretations of the poorer home performance of the non-Head Start children were also advanced.