The Concurrent Validity of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests Relative to the Peabody Individual Achievement Test among Retarded Adolescents

Abstract

To investigate the concurrent validity of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests (WRMT) and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT), both instruments were administered to 56 adolescents. Scores on the PIAT reading and spelling subtests were correlated with scores on the WRMT subtests which were designed to measure similar skills. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated for male, female, black, and white children as well as for the total group. The presence of relatively high and positive partial correlations between appropriate subtests supported the concurrent validity of the WRMT relative to the PIAT and to criterion variables. Grade equivalents were higher on the Peabody than on the Woodcock. Possible interpretations of the results were discussed.