Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test with Limited English Proficient Mexican-American Elementary Students

Abstract

Correlations and mean score differences between IQs derived from the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT; Bracken & McCallum, 1998) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III; Wechsler, 1991) were compared. Participants were Limited English Proficient (LEP) Mexican-American elementary school students, who were administered the UNIT and the WISC-III in counterbalanced order. The data revealed greater than expected correlations between the UNIT Full Scale and the WISC-III Full Scale and Verbal IQs. Patterns of correlations between the UNIT and the WISCIII provided support for both the convergent and discriminant validity of the UNIT with the targeted population. As anticipated, UNIT Full Scale IQs were significantly higher than WISCIII Full Scale IQs.