The Full-Range Picture Vocabulary Test: VI. Results for a Rural Population.

Abstract

In earlier papers in this series (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) the construction and standardization of the Full-Range Picture Vocabulary Test have been described. Norms have been presented (3, 6, 7) for a sample representing a large proportion of employed native white males, their wives, and their children. This sample was controlled for age, sex, grade in school, and own or parent's occupation. Evaluation of the testing results for this group showed that the test was highly reliable and quite valid as a measure of general verbal ability. The two forms set up were found easy to administer, economical of testing time, and were shown to be of wide clinical applic ability. Although the general norms for this and other previously reported tests have been based on widely representative populations, there is a general recognition of the need for separate norms for various subgroups. The basic structure of the revised Stanford-Binet (15) recognizes the need for separate norms for various age groups in childhood. The changing norms for the Wechsler-Bellevue test of adult intelligence are based on the recog nition of age changes in performance in later maturity. Both Terman and Wechsler omit Negroes from their standardization groups, recognizing their status as a distinct subgroup requiring separate handling. Special tests for the blind (9) show acceptance of their differential ability status. The widest extension of the separate norms idea is found in Kent's (10)