Reliability and Predictive Validity of the Dean Laterality Preference Schedule with Preadolescents

Abstract

The reliability and predictive validity of scores of the Dean Laterality Preference Schedule were estimated with 50 preadolescent children. The schedule is a self-report measure of a respondent's lateral preference for a number of common tasks involving the eyes, ears, hands, feet. One week following the administration of the scale, data were collected on each child's lateral preference when performing the actual tasks. Analysis showed the schedule to be a good predictor of manual patterns of lateral preference. The temporal stability of scores was .91 when all subjects were retested 4 wk. after its initial administration. It was concluded that the scale meets minimum requirements of reliability and predictive validity with preadolescent children.