A comparison of the Stanford-Binet abbreviated and complete forms for developmentally disabled children

Three abbreviated versions of the Stanford-Binet were reviewed and compared for 50 children with developmental disabilities. The children ranged in age from 6 years - 0 months to 15 years - 11 months. While the IQs obtained from the abbreviated forms correlated highly with the complete Binet IQ, it was felt that the 2-item test yielded too many "misses" both in terms of IQ and classification to be of significant value for use with developmentally disabled children. Although the Terman and Merrill 4-item and Wright versions both yielded considerable "misses" in classification, they were believed to be of definite value to the time-harried examiner. Caution was advised, however, in the use of abbreviated-form IQs as a basis for important diagnostic decisions.