Using the Bender Gestalt in South Africa: Some Normative Data for Zulu-speaking Children

Abstract

In this study the authors investigated the use of the Bender Gestalt test within the South African context by evaluating the applicability of the existing norms (Koppitz) and by exploring how the variables age, sex, educational level, and geographical area affect test performance in Zulu-speaking school children. Zulu-speaking subjects ( N = 882) ranging in age from 6–18 years, completed the test. The test was administered in group form and independently scored. The study sample's performance was compared to Koppitz's norms and some significant discrepancies were apparent, suggesting that these foreign norms are inappropriate for use with Zulu-speaking children. Further exploration revealed that age was very strongly related to performance, accounting for 31% of the variance. Sex and geographical area were also significantly related to performance but their respective effect sizes were small. Initial normative data are presented for Zulu-speaking children. The implications of these findings for further clinical use of the Bender Gestalt are considered.