Reliability and Validity of the D-48 with Mexican American College Students

Abstract

The D-48, a nonverbal test of general intelligence, is widely used in Europe and other areas of the world, but virtually unknown in the United States. In this study, the D-48 and the School and College Ability Tests (SCAT) were administered to a sample of 250 community college students who were continuing their studies at a large state university. Of the 250 students, 145 were Mexican American and 105 were Anglo. The results indicate no significant mean differences due to ethnicity, gender, or the interaction of the two. Both internal consistency and test-retest reliability were adequate. A step-wise regression analysis indicated an R2 of .36 with grade point average (GPA), with the D-48 entering as a second variable behind the SCAT Total. Finally, scores on the D-48 correlated modestly but significantly with GPA and with SCAT scores, indicating that the D-48 may be a useful adjunct to assess the capabilities of Mexican American students.