AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VALIDITY, RELIABILITY, AND ACCEPTANCE BY CHILDREN OF A MICROCOMPUTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE 'PEABODY PICTURE VOCABULARY TEST-REVISED'

This study was an investigation of a microcomputer system which was developed to administer, score, analyze, and produce a written report for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R). The variables of reliability, age, gender, level of previous experience with microcomputers, preference for manual or computerized test administration, and children's test performance under a manual and computer administration of the PPVT-R were evaluated.;There was no significant discrepancy among the test-retest reliability coefficients derived from the computer and manual test administrations. However, when the alternate form reliability coefficients derived from this study were compared to those reported in the PPVT-R Technical Supplement, a significant discrepancy was found for the fifth-grade computer-manual test sequence. The reliability coefficient was significantly lower than that reported in the PPVT-R Technical Supplement.;The subjects performed significantly better on the manual than the computer-administered test, regardless of gender, age, or level of previous experience with microcomputers. But, those students who received the computerized administration first scored significantly lower than those students who received the reverse order of test sequence.;Those students exposed to microcomputer systems in their homes or classrooms performed significantly higher on both the manual and computer administration of the PPVT-R than those students who did not have computer systems in their homes or classrooms. Moreover, students with computers in their homes or classrooms performed significantly higher on the manual than the computer administration of the PPVT-R.;The subjects in this study consisted of a cross-section of 98 children enrolled in Grades 2 through 6.;Analysis of the Test Preference Questionnaire found that 70.4% of the students expressed a preference for a computerized over human test administration, 20.4% reported no preference for either a human or computerized test administration, and 5% indicated that they preferred a human over a computer administration.;There were three limitations associated with the computer system used in the study. These were: (a) the heat generated by the computer, (b) the students' inability to alter their item selection under the computerized administration, and (c) the students' difficulty understanding some of the computerized stimulus words. Applications and implications for further study were indicated.