ERIC Number: EJ951614
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Jul
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9630
EISSN: N/A
Is the Discrepancy Criterion for Defining Developmental Disorders Valid?
Dyck, Murray J.; Hay, David; Anderson, Mike; Smith, Leigh M.; Piek, Jan; Hallmayer, Joachim
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, v45 n5 p979-995 Jul 2004
Background: Most developmental disorders are defined by an achievement discrepancy in which achievement on one or more specific abilities is substantially less than a person's measured intelligence. We evaluated the validity of this discrepancy criterion by assessing parameters that determine variability across abilities and by assessing relationships between achievement discrepancies and behavioral disturbances. Methods: Measures of intelligence, language, motor coordination, empathic ability, and attentional control were administered to a representative sample of 390 children aged 3 to 12 years. Parent ratings of child behavior were obtained. Results: Results indicate that achievement discrepancies are a function of the correlation between ability measures, the shape of the ability distributions, and position on an index ability dimension. Discrepancies in achievement were not related to behavioral disturbance, but underachievement relative to age peers was invariably related to behavioral disturbance. Conclusions: We conclude that developmental disorders need to be redefined in ways that are consistent with how Mental Retardation is now defined, by (a) underachievements, (b) of defined magnitude, (c) using standardized measures, (d) with known relations to normal development, and (e) concurrent deficits on standardized measures of impaired function.
Descriptors: Intelligence, Mental Retardation, Emotional Disturbances, Child Behavior, Children, Disabilities, Validity, Student Behavior, Parent Attitudes, Measurement, Language, Empathy, Psychomotor Skills, Attention, Correlation, Academic Achievement, Elementary Education
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A