Summary - Tests & Test-research



Title: An explorative study of SON-R tests and mentally retarded children and adults

(Verkennend onderzoek van de SON-R tests bij kinderen en volwassenen met een verstandelijke handicap)

June 1997, University of Groningen, internal publication

Authors: Wijnands, A.

Supervisors: dr. P.J. Tellegen, drs. M. Mertens, drs. M. Schols, drs. J. Soute

Summary by: drs. K.P.A. Huysman-Boosman

This study explores the way in which SON-R non-verbal tests of intelligence are useful to assess the level of intelligence of mentally retarded children and adults. The SON-R 2.5-7, a non-verbal test of intelligence includes a norm group from 2;0 to 7;11 years of age. The SON-R 5.5-17 includes a norm group from 5;6 -1 16;11 years of age. The range of intelligence quotients in most intelligence tests is between 50 and 150. When a person is mentally retarded, the intelligence quotient can end up below 50. With the existing norms no further differentiation can be made below quotients of 50 (and above 150). When a person ends up below 50 it is common to determine a mental age to describe the level of cognitive functioning. This is an absolute measure to describe someone’s developmental level. An intelligence quotient, in contrast, depicts a person’s performance in comparison with persons of the same age.

The sample consisted of 26 children and 15 adults with a mental retardation. Their intelligence quotient and mental age was administered with a SON-R test (either SON-R 2.5-7 or SON 5.5-17). Those intelligence quotients were compared to test results administered earlier (performal IQ and mental ages on SON 2.5-7, Terman-Merill, BOS 2-30, McCarthy, WPPSI, WISC, WISC-R and WAIS). A correlation of .42 (p≤.03) was found for intelligence quotients and for mental ages a correlation of .79 (p≤.01) was found. The relative weak correlation of .42 is discussed: The deviation of scores is small in this sample, the data are collected in a large period of time (from 1996 back to 1986), some norms of the tests are out-of-date. The SON-R tests are attractive to use with mentally retarded persons because of the attractive material, the highly structured procedure, the cut off rules, the use of feedback and the administration of both intelligence quotients and mental ages.

It is recommended to develop new norms for adults, so in the future intelligence quotients can be administered for this age group with the SON-R tests. Negative feedback can be very frustrating especially for the mentally retarded. Subtle formulations such as ‘look, your answer was almost right!’ can help to keep the persons motivated. Furthermore, the tendency to give social desirable answers is strong in this sample. It is recommended to pay more attention to this in the manual.

See also:

Gerritsen, M., Berg, I. and Deelman, B. De Snijders-Oomen Niet-verbale Intelligentietest: bruikbaar bij ouderen? [Measuring intelligence in the elderly: Is the Snijders- Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence test 5.5-17 a valuable method?]. Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie, 32, 24-28.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download