http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/1311939

An infant rating scale its validation and usefulness

It is generally recognized that compatibility in adoption depends on a sound evaluation of the adoptive parents and of the infant and that the best interests of the child are served by early placement in a permanent home. Early assessment of the infant, on which proper placement is dependent, must be primarily predictive. However, existing infant tests have been found to be unsatisfactory predictors of subsequent development. Therefore, the infant rating scale, for use with infants under 3 months of age, was devised in order to facilitate the acceleration of adoption procedures. This instrument scales (1) intelligence of the natural parents, (2) prenatal medical information on the mother, (3) information concerned with birth and delivery, (4) early behavior of the infant, and (5) medical condition and progress of the infant. The infant rating scale was administered to 114 infants, and its effectiveness as a predictor of subsequent development was explored in a longitudinal follow-up study of 73 of these children at approximately 4.5 years of age. The results of this study established the reliability and validity of the infant rating scale and its usefulness as a screening measure for purposes of early placement for adoption. Detailed statistics are presented in 40 tables, and an appendix contains the forms used in the administration of the scale. This document is available from child welfare league of american, inc., 44 east 23rd street, new york, N. Y. 10010 for $3.00. (js).

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