Tests and questionnaires used in a psychoeducational evaluation depend upon
the nature of the difficulties
the student is experiencing. In every assessment, School Psychologists will
typically obtain measures of
cognitive ability, academic achievement, visual perception, motor
coordination, and visual-motor integration
skills. Standardized tests are the most appropriate, and are typically the
only kinds of tests given by School Psychologists to determine a student’s
functional levels.
Depending upon the student’s difficulties, Dr.
Rickman (or any School Psychologist) may administer a
combination of the following tests, rating scales, or questionnaires:
Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational
Battery –
Third Edition

The Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational
Battery – Third Edition
(WJ III) is a comprehensive test battery used for assessing cognitive and
academic achievement skills in individuals aged 2 years through 90 years.
One of the most important features of the WJ III system is that the norms
for the cognitive and achievement tests are based on data from the same
sample of subjects. This allows direct comparisons among and within a
subject’s scores that have a degree of accuracy not possible when
comparing scores from separately normed tests. In addition to providing
ability/achievement discrepancies, co-norming enables examiners to jointly
evaluate domain-specific achievement skills and the cognitive abilities
related to those skills (McGrew & Woodcock, 2001).
The theoretical foundation of the WJ III Cognitive
Battery is derived from
the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory of cognitive abilities (CHC theory). This
is a multi-level approach to the understanding of broad and narrow
abilities. Broad cognitive abilities include areas such as
Comprehension-Knowledge (Gc), Fluid Reasoning (Gf),
Short-Term Memory (Gsm), Long-Term Retrieval (Glr),
Processing Speed (Gs), Visual-Spatial Thinking (Gv), and
Auditory Processing (Ga). These broad intellectual abilities have
also been referred to as Central Processing Skills.
The administration of the WJ III Cognitive
Battery can yield
measures in each Central Processing Skill area. In other words, it yields
a profile of a student’s performances across multiple areas of
intelligence. These areas of intelligence are differentially associated
with academic achievement across the lifespan.
As part of his evaluations, Dr. Rickman administers
selective subtests of the WJ III Cognitive and Achievement batteries.
Descriptions of those subtests which are most frequently administered by
Dr. Rickman, as adapted from Mather and Woodcock (2001), appear below:
WJ III Cognitive Tests
Verbal
Comprehension
measures aspects of language development in spoken English language, such
as knowledge of vocabulary or the ability to reason using lexical (word)
knowledge.
Visual-Auditory Learning
measures the ability to learn, store, and retrieve a series of
visual-auditory associations. On this test of associative and meaningful
memory, the child is asked to learn and recall rebuses (pictographic
representations of words).
Spatial
Relations
requires the identification of two or three pieces that form a complete
target shape, a visualization-of-spatial-relationships task.
Sound
Blending
measures skill in synthesizing language sounds (phonemes). The child is
asked to listen to a series of syllables or phonemes and then to blend the
sounds into a word.
Concept
Formation
measures categorical reasoning ability. This test also measures
flexibility in thinking. The child is presented with a complete stimulus
set from which to derive the rule for each item. Immediate feedback is
provided regarding the correctness of each response before a new item is
presented.
Visual
Matching
measures an aspect of cognitive efficiency-- the speed at which the child
can make visual symbol discriminations. The child is asked to locate and
circle the two identical numbers in a row of six numbers. This task
proceeds in difficulty from single-digit numbers to triple-digit numbers
and has a 3-minute time limit.
Numbers
Reversed
requires the child to hold a span of numbers in immediate awareness
(memory) while performing a mental operation on it (reversing the
sequence).
Incomplete
Words
measures auditory analysis and auditory closure, aspects of phonemic
awareness and phonetic coding. After hearing, from an audio recording, a
word that has one or more phonemes missing, the child is asked to identify
the complete word.
Auditory
Working Memory
measures short-term auditory memory span. The child is asked to listen to
a series that contains digits and words, such as "dog, 1, shoe, 8, 2,
apple." He/she is then asked to reorder the information, repeating first
the objects in sequential order and then the digits in sequential order.
This task requires the child to hold information in immediate awareness,
divide the information into two groups, and shift attentional resources to
the two new ordered sequences.
WJ III
Achievement Tests
Letter-Word Identification
measures the ability to identify letters and words. For this test, the
child is not required to know the meaning of any word.
Reading
Fluency
measures the ability to quickly read simple sentences, decide if the
statement is true, and then circle Yes or No. The child is asked to
complete as many items as possible within a 3-minute time limit.
Calculation
measures the
ability to perform mathematical computations. The items requires the
child to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
operations.
Math
Fluency
measures the child’s ability to solve simple addition, subtraction, and
multiplication facts quickly. The child is presented with a series of
simple arithmetic problems to complete in a 3-minute time limit.
Spelling
measures the
child’s ability to write orally presented words correctly.
Writing
Fluency
measures the child’s skill in formulating and writing simple sentences
quickly. The child is required to write sentences relating to a given
stimulus picture that includes a set of three words. This test has a
7-minute time limit.
Passage
Comprehension
measures the ability to understand what he or she reads. Some items
involve use of pictures. The items become increasingly difficult and
require the child to read a short passage and identify a missing key word
that makes sense in the context of the passage.
Applied
Problems
measures the ability to analyze and solve math problems. To solve the
problems, the child is required to listen to the problem, recognize the
procedure to be followed, and then perform relatively simple
calculations. Because many of the problems include extraneous
information, the child needs to decide not only the appropriate
mathematical operations to use but also what information to include in the
calculation.
Writing
Samples
measures the child’s skill in writing responses to a variety of demands.
The child is asked to produce written sentences that are evaluated with
respect to the quality of expression. The child is not penalized for any
errors in basic writing skills, such as spelling or punctuation.
Word
Attack
measure the child’s skill in applying phonic and structural analysis
skills. The initial items require him/her to produce the sounds for
single letters. This test requires the child to pronounce letter
combinations that are phonically consistent, or regular, patterns in
English orthography but are nonwords or low-frequency words.
Quantitative Concepts
measures the child's knowledge of mathematical concepts, symbols, and
vocabulary. There are two subtests administered: Concepts and Number
Series. In the first subtest, the child is required to count, use numbers
and concepts, and identify mathematical terms. In the second subtest, the
task require the child to look at a series of numbers, figure out the
pattern, and then provide the missing number in the series.
McGrew, K.S.,
& Woodcock, R.W. (2001). Woodcock-Johnson III: Technical Manual.
Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing Company.
Mather, N. &
Woodcock, R.W. (2001). Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive
Abilities Examiner’s Manual. Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing
Company.
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is
an individually administered clinical instrument for assessing the
cognitive skills of children age 6 years 0 months through 16 years 11
months. It is comprised of 15 subtests, each measuring various facets of
intelligence.
The theoretical foundation of the WISC-IV is derived from Wechsler’s
original Verbal-Nonverbal theory of intelligence (1939). The WISC-IV
reflects an increased attention to the importance of working memory and
processing speed in the importance of cognitive functioning. A complete
administration of the WISC-IV yields standard scores in the following
composite areas:
·
Verbal Comprehension Index
·
Perceptual Reasoning Index
·
Working Memory Index
·
Processing Speed Index
·
Full Scale IQ
Wechsler, D. (1939). The measurement of adult intelligence.
Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Following are descriptions of each of the WISC-IV subtests:
WISC-IV Verbal Comprehension Subtests
Similarities
measures verbal reasoning and concept formation. It also involves
auditory comprehension, memory, distinction between nonessential and
essential features, and verbal expression. This test requires the child
to identify the similarity between two ostensibly dissimilar items (words
presented to the child)
Vocabulary
measures the child’s word knowledge and verbal concept formation. For the
picture items, the child is required to name the pictures in the stimulus
book. For the verbal items, the child is required to give definitions for
words the examiner reads aloud.
Comprehension
measures the child’s verbal reasoning and conceptualization, verbal
comprehension, and verbal expression. This test requires the child to
answer questions based on his or her understanding of general principles
and social situations.
Information
measures the child’s ability to acquire, retain, and retrieve general
factual knowledge. It involves crystallized intelligence, long-term
memory, and the ability to retain and retrieve information from school and
the environment. The test requires the child to answer questions that
address a broad range of general knowledge topics.
Word
Reasoning
measures verbal comprehension, analogical and general reasoning ability,
verbal abstraction, domain knowledge, the ability to integrate and
synthesize different types of information, and the ability to generate
alternative concepts. This test requires the child to identify the common
concept being described in a series of clues.
WISC IV
Perceptual Reasoning Subtests
Block
Design
measures the child’s ability to analyze and synthesize abstract visual
stimuli. This test requires the child to view a constructed model or a
picture in the stimulus book, and use red-and-white blocks to re-create
the design within a specified time limit.
Picture
Concepts
measures abstract, categorical reasoning ability. The child is presented
with two or three rows of pictures and chooses one picture from each row
to form a group with a common characteristic.
Matrix
Reasoning
measures fluid intelligence and provides a reliable estimate of general
nonverbal intelligence. This test requires the child to view an
incomplete matrix and select the missing portion from 5 response options.
Picture
Completion
measures visual perception and organization, concentration, and visual
recognition of essential details of objects. This test requires the child
to view a picture and then point to or name the important part missing
within a specified time limit.
WISC IV
Working Memory Subtests
Digit Span
measures auditory short-term memory, sequencing skills, attention, and
concentration. The Digit Span Forward task requires the child to repeat
numbers in the same order as read aloud by the examiner. Digit Span
Backward requires the child to repeat the numbers in the reverse order of
that presented by the examiner.
Letter-Number Sequencing measures sequencing, mental manipulation, attention, short-term
auditory memory, visuospatial imaging, and processing speed. It requires
the child to read a sequence of letters and numbers and recall the numbers
in ascending order and the letters in alphabetical order.
Arithmetic
measures mental manipulation, concentration, attention, short- and
long-term memory, numerical reasoning ability, and mental alertness. It
requires the child to mentally solve a series of orally presented
arithmetic problems within a specified time limit.
WISC IV
Processing Speed Subtests
Coding
measures the child’s short-term memory, learning ability, visual
perception, visual-motor coordination, visual scanning ability, cognitive
flexibility, attention, and motivation. It requires the child to copy
symbols that are paired with simple geometric shapes or numbers.
Symbol
Search
measures processing speed, short-term visual memory, visual-motor
coordination, cognitive flexibility, visual discrimination, and
concentration. This test requires the child to scan a search group and
indicate whether the target symbol(s) matches any of the symbols in the
search group within a specified time limit.
Cancellation
measures
processing speed, visual selective attention, vigilance, and visual
neglect. It requires the child to scan both a random and structured
arrangement of pictures and mark target pictures within a specified time
limit.
Wechsler, D. (2003). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence
Scale for Children – Fourth Edition. San Antonio: The Psychological
Corporation.
Developmental
Test of Visual-Motor Integration

The Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration is an
individually administered, paper-and-pencil test of visual-motor skills,
which requires the child to duplicate several basic geometric figures by
drawing them. A child’s performance on this test involves fine motor
development, perceptual discrimination skills, and the ability to
integrate perceptual and motor processes. Therefore, it involves both
perceptual Input and motor Output. Poor performances on
this test may be indicative of perceptual (input) difficulties, fine motor
(output) difficulties, and/or problems with integrating these processes.
Beery, Keith (1997). The Beery-Buktenica
Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration: Administration, Scoring,
and Teaching Manual (4th Edition).
New Jersey:
Modern Curriculum Press.
VMI
Developmental Test of Visual Perception
The VMI Developmental Test of Visual Perception is an individually
administered, paper-and-pencil test of visual perceptual skills, which
requires the child to identify duplicate geometric designs. No complex
drawing is involved on this test. A child’s performance on this test
involves the interpretation of visual stimuli rather than visual
acuity. In other words, it provides a measure of the child’s perceptual
input skills, or the ability to analyze and synthesize parts and
wholes of visual stimuli.
Beery, Keith (1997).
The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration:
Administration, Scoring, and Teaching Manual (4th Edition).
New Jersey: Modern Curriculum Press.
VMI
Developmental Test of Motor Coordination
The VMI Developmental Test of Motor Coordination is an individually
administered, paper–and-pencil test of motor coordination skills, which
requires the child to connect dots and draw between lines to duplicate
designs. A child’s performance on this test involves the ability to
control finger and hand movements. Therefore, this test assesses motor
output skills.
Beery, Keith (1997).
The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration:
Administration, Scoring, and Teaching Manual (4th Edition).
New Jersey: Modern Curriculum Press.
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition (SB-IV) is
used to appraise cognitive skills of individuals from ages 2 to adult.
A complete administration of the SB-IV will yield composite scores
in the following areas:
·
Verbal Reasoning
·
Abstract/Visual Reasoning
·
Quantitative Reasoning
·
Short-Term Memory
·
Test Composite
Thorndike,
R.L., Hagen, E.P., & Sattler, J.M. (1986). Stanford-Binet Intelligence
Scale: Fourth Edition. Chicago, IL: Riverside Publishing Co.
Human Figure Drawing
The Human Figure Drawing is a paper-and-pencil test which requires
the child to produce a drawing of a person. The child’s response is
scored according to the number of essential features (e.g., head, torso,
arms, legs, feet, etc.) included in the drawing. The number of essential
features in the drawing is considered to be an indication of the child’s
overall mental maturity or cognitive development. For example, the
well-developed four year old child can be expected to include a head,
torso, two arms, two legs, mouth, nose, and eyes. In the young child,
these features may be added onto a stick figure. Stick-figures in the
drawings of an older child approximately beyond the age of five years
would be more uncommon, and may be considered a reflection of mental
immaturity.
In some cases, children’s drawings may be analyzed to determine the
presence of emotional disturbance in children. It is not uncommon that
traumatic life events (e.g., physical or sexual abuse) are reflected in a
child’s drawings. Analyses of children’s drawings in this manner are used
to corroborate other, more reliable information garnered from child and
parent interviews, medical records, etc.
Harris, D.B.
(1963). Children’s drawings as measures of intellectual maturity: A
revision and extension of the Goodenough Draw-A-Man Test. New York:
Harcourt, Brace & World.
Orthographic Processing involves the ability to recognize
words by their letter patterns and to apply the alphabetic principle to
print. Difficulties in this area often results in poor and non-automatic
sight word recognition and spelling, even though the child’s phonics
analysis strategies might be well developed. The Test of Orthographic
Processing Skills was developed in an effort to discriminate between
children with phonetic and orthographic difficulties. A child who makes
age-inappropriate phonetic-based errors on when writing will tend not to
have difficulties with phonics but rather, will often have orthographic
processing problems.
The Test of Orthographic Processing Skills is an unpublished
test, created and used by Dr. Rickman, which was normed in the Van Dyke
Public School District. It requires the child to identify correctly
spelled words (“Real Words”) among a series of phonically consistent
pseudowords. If a child obtains a low score on this test then it is
likely that the child has difficulties with orthographic processing and
may require reading intervention which is different from phonics-based
approaches.
Gordon Diagnostic System
III-R
The Gordon Diagnostic System is a microprocessor-based test of sustained
attention and impulsivity. On this test, the child is presented with a
long sequence of numbers which flash at a rate of one-per-second on an LED
screen. The child is required to push a large button every time the
number “9” follows the number “1”. Errors of Omission, which are believed
to reflect lapses in attention, are made when the 9 follows the 1 and the
child does not push the button. Errors of Commission, which are believed
to reflect impulsivity, are made when the child pushes the button for the
wrong numbers.
Gordon, M., McClure, F.D., Aylward, G.P. (1997).
Interpretive Guide to the Gordon Diagnostic System – Third Edition.
DeWitt, NY: Gordon Systems, Inc.
Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales

The
Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales was developed to assess adaptive functioning in
individuals aged from birth to 18 years, 11 months. It is a
norm-referenced rating scale comprised of 297 items. The respondent
answers questions relating to the child’s current functioning in the areas
of receptive, expressive, and written communication; personal, domestic,
and community daily living skills; and socialization skills in the areas
of interpersonal relationships, play and leisure time, and coping skills.
There is also a motor skills domain, where gross and fine motor skills
development is assessed.
Standard scores, age-equivalents, adaptive levels, and percentile
scores are obtained in each domain and subdomain assessed. The Adaptive
Behavior Composite score is considered to reflect the child’s overall
level of adaptive functioning.
Sparrow, S., Balla, D. & Cicchetti, D. (1984).
Vineland
Adaptive Behavior Scales: Interview Edition Survey Form Manual.
American Guidance Service, Inc.
Adaptive Behavior
Evaluation Scale
The Adaptive Behavior Evaluation Scale – Revised (ABES-R) was
developed to assess adaptive functioning in individuals aged 5 to 18
years. It is a norm-referenced rating scale containing 104 items, based
on AAMR definition of adaptive skills developed in 1991. The Home Version
of the ABES-R is completed by the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s). The
School Version of the ABES-R is completed by the child’s classroom
teacher(s). Ratings are made in the areas of Communication, Self-Care,
Home Living, Social skills, Community Use, Self-Direction, Health and
Safety, Functional Academics, Leisure, and Work.
McCarney, S.B. (1995). Adaptive Behavior Scale –
Revised. Columbia,
MO: Hawthorne Educational Services, Inc.
Attention
Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale
The Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale (ADDES) was
developed to contribute to the identification of and service delivery to
students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a
norm-referenced rating scale with each item based on factor analytic
research. The Home Version of the ADDES is completed by the child’s
parent(s)/guardian(s). The School Version of the ADDES is completed by
the child’s teacher(s). Ratings are made in the areas of Inattention,
Impulsivity, and Hyperactivity.
McCarney, S.B. (1995). Attention Deficit Disorders
Evaluation Scale.
Columbia,
MO: Hawthorne Educational Services, Inc.
Emotional and
Behavior Problem Scale

The Emotional and Behavior Problem Scale – Second Edition (EBPS-2)
was developed to contribute to the identification of and service delivery
to students with behavior disorders and/or emotional disturbance. It is a
norm-referenced rating scale with each item based on the federal
definition of serious emotional disturbance and childhood disorders
identified through factor analytic research. The Home Version of the EBPS
is completed by the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s). The School Version of
the EBPS is completed by the child’s teacher(s). Ratings are made in the
areas of Learning, Interpersonal Relations, Inappropriate Behavior,
Unhappiness/Depression, and Physical Symptoms/Fears.
McCarney, S.B. (2001). Emotional and Behavior
Problem Scale – Second Edition.
Columbia,
MO: Hawthorne Educational Services, Inc.
Teacher’s Checklist
The Teacher’s Checklist is a comprehensive questionnaire produced
by
Riverside Publishing, which is often used in conjunction
with the WJ III to gather information about the child’s classroom behavior
and skill levels. This questionnaire is completed by the child’s
classroom teacher based on observations over the previous month. Ratings
of academic skills are made in the areas of listening comprehension, oral
expression, basic reading, reading comprehension, math calculation, math
reasoning, basic writing, and written expression. Behavioral ratings are
made in the areas of attention, impulsivity, withdrawal, activity level,
organization, anxiousness, and aggressiveness.
Parent’s Checklist
The Parent’s Checklist is a comprehensive questionnaire produced by
Riverside Publishing, which is often used in conjunction
with the WJ III to gather information about the child’s early birth,
medical, familial, behavioral, social, and educational history. This
questionnaire is completed by the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) based on
historical information and observations of the child’s behavior in the
home setting.