The performance of five-year old Maltese children on three ability tests

Abstract

Three ability tests; the Seguin Formboayd Test, the Naming Vocabulary Test (Elliott et al., 1978) and the "Copying" Sub-Test (Elliott et a 1 . , 1978) were administered to a sample of 411 Year I Maltese children (216 boys and 195 girls with a mean age of 5:03 years. The study gives norms of performance in the three tests. Sex, age and handedness differences in the performance on the three tests were investigated. Correlational, validity and reliability studies were also carried out. Handedness differences in the per· fur md nee on the Formboard Test and on the "Copying" Sub-Test were not found to be statistically significant. In the Naming Vocabulary Test only in one of the three age groups were boys found to be superior to girls; in the other two tests no significant differences emerged. Of the three tests the:; "Copying" Sub-Test was found to be the most valid and reliable.