Use of the Uzgiris and Hunt Scales with Handicapped Infants: Concurrent Validity of the Dunst Age Norms

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to gather concurrent validity data on the age norms provided in the 1980 Dunst manual for use with the Uzgiris and Hunt Infant Psychological Development Scale. The sample included 39 infants and toddlers who had heterogeneous handicapping conditions which brought about their enrollment in infant intervention programs. Test scores on a traditional measure, the Mental Scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, were compared with scores on the Infant Psychological Development Scale. Evidence supporting the validity of the age norms was obtained. The correlation between the mental age estimates from the two infant scales was highly significant (r = .92, p < .01). A discussion of the Infant Psychological Development Scale including the patterns of inter-correlation, the multiple purposes to which it may be applied, and cautions and limitations of the use of this ordinal scale of infant assessment, conclude this report.