The relationship between the Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence and the Bender gestalt with preschool children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Bender Gestalt (BG) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) with a group of preschool children. A second aim of this study was to explore the value of the BG as an intellectual screening instrument to be used in place of the time consuming WPPSI. This study consisted of 48 Ss (24 males and 24 females) who were attending nursery school classes and day care centers during the winter of 1978-79 in Muncie, Indiana. Age range at the time of testing was 5 years 0 months to 6 years 6 months with a mean age of 5 years 5 months. Tests were administered individually by a white male or female clinical psychology graduate student. Each examiner was randomly assigned a group of Ss consisting of 12 males and 12 females. The order of test administration was counterbalanced. Pearson product-moment (r) correlations obtained between the WPPSI Full, Verbal, and Performance Scales were r = -.65, r = -.52, and r = -.67, respectively (p<.001). Since more of the common variance was associated with the BG and the WPPSI Full (42%) and Performance Scales (45%) than with the Verbal Scale (27%), the BG may be used with caution in place of the WPPSI Full or Performance Scales with preschool children.Thesis (M.A.