Psychometric Assessment of Neuro-diversity
Psychometric diagnostic instruments are used all over the world in the diagnosis of special educational needs for children and young adults from ages 3 to 17 years. These include:
- Individual broad spectrum cognitive ability tests (“IQ tests”)
- Non-verbal and verbal group tests
- Scales of infant development
- Tests used by Speech and Language Therapists
- Standardized individual tests of educational achievement
I was fortunate in being able to help adapt and standardize many of these for the UK market as publisher-funded university research grants. These are listed below. Their use is restricted to appropriately qualified professionals. Contact your professional society for more details. Note that in academic settings, as access to such tests and their manuals is not freely available, published psychometric tests are not in themselves treated as peer reviewed. If a peer reviewed citation is required cite the publisher of the test manual (and ISBN number if available).
Neuro-diversity assessments adapted for the UK market
In 1990, I was approached by The Psychological Corporation to lead a significant project: adapting the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) for the UK market. The WISC remains the main assessment instrument of the educational needs of diverse children and adults even today. By the end of the 20th century, The Psychological Corporation, originally founded by James McKeen Cattell in 1922, had become the world’s largest publisher of psychometric tests. From 2007 onward, their work has been assumed by Pearson Assessment, who continue to publish these valuable tests. The task was daunting—IQ testing, then as now, sparked controversy due to concerns over fairness, cultural bias, and the ethics of labeling children based on scores. However, my belief was that the debate had become overly politicized, to the detriment of children who needed proper diagnoses and support. For me, the focus was never about labeling but about ensuring that every child received the help they deserved. Against this background, the success of such a project relied heavily on school participation. Many believed it would be too difficult to pull off. However, with my experience in psychometrics, I saw an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for children who deserved the best chance at receiving the help they needed.
With support from my then university, Goldsmiths College in the University of London, I treated the project as a research grant and rallied over 80 educational psychologists and special needs advisors from across the UK. To my surprise and relief, more than 100 schools were eager to participate. The project rapidly took shape, with over 800 children, from all corners of the country, undergoing assessments. We carefully ensured that the sample reflected the diversity of the 1990 UK census, considering factors like gender, ethnicity, parental education, and regional representation.
The experience became a blueprint for my future standardizations (see below). Of all the academic projects I’ve worked on throughout my career, I’m most proud of these. Though scientific research forms the foundation of my work, its real value lies in its impact on people’s lives. Knowing that this part of work has helped children facing the challenges of neurodiversity means so much more.
British Ability Scales (UK Edition, 3rd Revision) (BAS-3 UK)
Currently available from GL Assessment, London. Standardization subcontracted as a research grant to The Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, 2010.
Ravens Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales
Includes the Standard Matrices, the Colored Matrices and the Mill Hill and Crichton Vocabulary Scales. Available from Pearson Clinical, London. Anglicized and UK standardized version of the Ravens Educational Standard Progressive Matrices Plus and Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale. UK standardization for Pearson Assessment as a research grant to The Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, 2008.
Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd Edition) UK
Anglicization and UK standardization contracted as a research grant from Harcourt Assessment (now Pearson) to The Psychometrics Centre, City University, London, 2006. Currently available in 3rd Edition from Pearson Clinical.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) UK Editions
WISC-V is currently available from Pearson Clinical Assessment in London. The UK Anglicization and standardization of WISC-III and WISC-IV were sub-contracted as research grants to the Psychology Departrments at Goldsmiths College, London, 1992 and at City University, London 2004 respectively.
WISC-III (UK)
The 3rd Revision of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was first published by The Psychological Corporation (now Pearson), London in 1992.
WISC-IV (UK)
The 4th Revision of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was first published by Harcourt Assessment (now Pearson), London in 2004.
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) UK Edition
Now available in its 5th Edition from Pearson Clinical, London. Anglicization and UK standardization of its 4th Edition sub-contracted as a research grant to The Psychometrics Centre at City University, London. The Preschool Version (CELF-II Preschool UK) formed part of the same research grant.
The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF), 4th UK Edition (CELF-IV UK) published by Harcourt Assessment (now Pearson Clinical), London in 2006.
The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, Preschool Version. 2nd UK Edition (CELF Preschool-II UK) published by Harcourt Assessment, London in 2006.
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) UK Editions
Currently available in its 3rd UK Edition from Pearson Clinical in London. The UK Anglicization and standardization of WIAT (the first edition) and WIAT-II were sub-contracted as research grants while I was Senior Lecturer and Reader in Psychology at Goldsmiths College, London (1996), and subsequently Professor of Psychometrics at City University London (2005).
Note: The UK standardization of the original WIAT UK was cut short due to lack of funding. However, as data collection was already underway, the Reading component was published separately as WORD. Owing to its success, the Language and Numerical components (WOLD and WOND) followed in 1996. There were no US versions of WORD, WOLD or WOND, and these UK versions are probably no longer available. However, all these various sections have been updated in later WIAT versions.
Manual of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (2nd UK Edition) (WIAT-II UK) (2005)
Harcourt Assessment (now Pearson Clinical) London.
Manual of the Wechsler Objective Reading Dimensions (WORD) (1993)
The Psychological Corporation (now Pearson Clinical), London.
Manual of the Wechsler Objective Numerical Dimensions (WOND), (1996)
The Psychological Corporation (now Pearson Clinical), London.
Manual of the Wechsler Objective Language Dimensions (WOLD), (1996)
The Psychological Corporation (now Pearson Clinical), London.
Wechsler Quick Test (UK)
Published in 1996 by The Psychological Corporation, London (now Pearson Clinical).
Doesn’t appear to be available anymore. It included three WIAT sub-tests (Basic Reading, Spelling and Mathematics) 1996.
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) UK Editions
Currently available in its fourth edition as WPPSI-IV from Pearson Clinical Assessment, London. The UK Anglicization and standardization of WPPSI-III was sub-contracted as a research grant to The Psychometrics Centre at City University London 2002.
Manual of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (United Kingdom Edition, WPPSI-III UK). (2004) Harcourt Assessment (now Pearson Clinical Assessment). London.
Wechsler General Ability Index (UK)
Doesn’t appear to be available anymore.
Raiford, S. E., Weiss, L. G., Rolfhus, E., Coalson, D. and Rust, J. (2006) Anglicized and UK standardized version of the Wechsler General Ability Index (UK). Harcourt Assessment, London.
Movement Assessment Battery for Children (2nd Edition)
Published by Pearson Assessment in 2007. Data analysis of the UK standardization subcontracted to The Psychometrics Centre, Cambridge University in 2005.