Date of Award
2000
Degree Name
Psychology
College
College of Liberal Arts
Type of Degree
M.A.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. Del Lawhon
Second Advisor
Dr. Ranson
Third Advisor
Dr. Stephen O’Keefe
Fourth Advisor
Leonard J. Deutsch
Abstract
Learning disabilities are fairly prevalent in the population of children today. Consensus in the area of learning disabilities (LD) is difficult to find. Definition, criteria, and detection methods are among the areas of disagreement. Assuming that LD involves central nervous system dysfunction, it follows that neuropsychological tests should be employed in the detection of LD in children. To date, no standard tests, or batteries of tests, are utilized to diagnose LD. This study examined the utility of the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) in discriminating LD children from non-LD children aged 9 to 16 years of age. The results showed that the VMI did not discriminate between the LD and non-LD samples. However, upon further analysis, the VMI did show to discriminate LD from non-LD status in children above 10 years, 9 months of age. The mean standard scores of each group, however, were within one standard deviation of the mean, or normal range. This fact limits its clinical use as a diagnostic tool for LD. It was concluded that the VMI has little or no clinical utility in detecting LD, and it should not be included in a test battery designed to detect LD in children and adolescents of this age group.
Subject(s)
Learning ability – Testing.
Learning disabilities – Diagnosis.
Recommended Citation
McFarland, Michelle, "Use of the Visual-Motor Integration Test to discriminate learning disabled from non-disabled children and adolescents" (2000). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1729.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1729
