Brief report: cautions against using the Stanford-Binet-IV to classify high-risk preschoolers

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatric Neurodevelopment
• Educational Assessment

Background:

• Preschoolers at high risk due to medical complications require accurate developmental assessments.
• Early identification is crucial for timely intervention services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concurrent and predictive validity of the Stanford-Binet: Fourth Edition (SB-IV).
• To compare SB-IV scores with the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI) and later achievement in at-risk preschoolers.
• To determine the SB-IV's utility in identifying eligibility for early intervention.

Main Methods:

• 92 high-risk preschoolers were assessed at ages 3, 4, and 5.
• The Stanford-Binet: Fourth Edition (SB-IV) and Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI) were administered.
• Data were analyzed for concurrent and predictive validity over an 8-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant concurrent correlations (r = .73-.78) and predictive correlations (r = .58-.85) were found between SB-IV and BDI.
• However, the SB-IV and BDI categorized children differently for intervention eligibility.
• The SB-IV missed 87% of children identified as delayed by the BDI at age 3 and 50% at age 5.

Conclusions:

• The Stanford-Binet: Fourth Edition (SB-IV) may not be suitable for assessing early intervention eligibility in high-risk populations.
• Caution is advised when using the SB-IV for this purpose.
• Further research is needed to validate alternative assessment tools.