Discussion Questions

Discuss the implications of the stability and predictive validity research on preschool tests of intelligence.

Compare and contrast the assessment of intelligence in infancy with that at the preschool and school-age levels. The assessor who works with children at these very young ages faces what challenges?

Discuss the reasons why the results of infant tests of intelligence typically do not correspond well to the results yielded by intelligence tests when the child reaches school age. What factors likely impact these validity coefficients?

Discuss the concept of the at-risk child. If infant and preschool tests of intelligence have little predictive value, what (if anything) is their value?

Discuss the differentiation of diagnosis from screening.

If you were to develop your own infant and preschool scale, what would it include? What would the materials look like? Bucy (1995) summarizes research that can be integrated into a lecture/discussion on the topic of infant and preschool intellectual assessment.

Have you ever taken an advanced placement test? Describe your experience.

What is the difference between tests of aptitude and achievement?

Should merit pay be issued to teachers based, in part, on their student's achievement test scores? Given your knowledge of achievement tests, what are your views of this proposal? Take the perspective of the taxpayer, parent, teacher, and school administrator in answering this question.

After reading the section on college aptitude tests, what are your reactions to them? Do you feel the confidence placed in them by college admissions committees is justified?

What is a learning disability? How is the condition diagnosed? What are the problems inherent in the definition? Discuss the various methods of identifying specific learning disabilities with a particular focus on discrepancy formulas.

Discuss the pros and cons of minimal competency exams.

Are you a "sequential" or "simultaneous" learner? Why? How might a teacher use this type of information to develop teaching strategies to use in the classroom?

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of portfolio and authentic assessment.

Compare and contrast checklists and rating scales. Further discussion can focus on differentiating screening and diagnostic instruments.