Torque, Academic Achievement, and Behavorial Problems in Early Adolescents

Abstract

A basic problem has been the assessment of significant neuropsychological processes in an unobtrusive manner. A- literature search produced a simple neuropsychological procedure called the Torque Test claimed to successfully identify children at risk for academic problems and aberrant behavior. The purpose of the study was to investigate the Torque Test as a screening device for identifying children at risk for behavioral and academic problems. The relationship between torque and lateral dominance was also examined. Ninety-four fourth- and fifth-grade subjects (47 males and 47 females) were drawn from a normal classroom population with a minimum I. Q. of 80. The subjects were administered the Torque Test, the Reitan Test for Lateral Dominance, and the Wide Range Achievement Test. Each subject was rated by his or her parent (Burks' Behavior Rating Scale) and teacher (Conners Abbreviated Teacher Rating Scale). The results indicate that the Torque Test may be useful for screening for behavior problems, but not for academic difficulties.