http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/2554660468

Goodenough-Harris Test Estimates of Intellectual Maturity of Youths 12-17 Years: Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors

The results of a modified version of the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test are presented in relation to selected demographic and socioeconomic factors as they affect youths aged 12-17 years in the noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Findings are based on data gathered on a sample of 6,768 adolescents who participated in the Health Examination Survey of 1966-70. a consistent positive relationship was found between the level of parental education and the adolescents' test scores. An equally consistent positive association was observed between scores and family income. When either of these factors was held constant, the effect of the other persisted. Differences related to factors other than family income and parental education were negligible. The data did not reveal any significant data on differences among geographic regions, between urban and rural areas, or among racial groups which are not largely ascribable to socioeconomic status. Location of household with respect to city or suburbs was not significant, but rate of population change in the area of residence was associated with some small difference in performance. Differences in test performance--associated with school-related variables and academic achievement were considerably smaller than those observed for reading and arithmetic tests. In general, the test functioned as a general ability measure in the earlier years of adolescence, but after about age 15 it discriminated only in the lower reaches of the ability distribution. (Author/EVH).

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