Convergent validity of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the differential ability scales in children with autism spectrum disorders

Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2011 Sep;116(5):331-43. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-116.5.331.

Abstract

Despite widespread use of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL; E. M. Mullen, 1995 ) as a cognitive test for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, the instrument has not been independently validated for use in these populations. Convergent validity of the MSEL and the Differential Ability Scales (DAS; C. D. Elliott, 1990 , 2007 ) was examined in 53 children with autism spectrum disorder and 19 children with nonspectrum diagnoses. Results showed good convergent validity with respect to nonverbal IQ (NVIQ), verbal IQ (VIQ), and NVIQ-VIQ profiles. These findings provide preliminary support for the practice of using MSEL age-equivalents to generate NVIQ and VIQ scores. Establishing convergent validity of cognitive tests is needed before IQs derived from different tests can be conceptualized as a uniform construct.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aptitude Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Aptitude*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / diagnosis*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intelligence
  • Male
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Statistics as Topic