Introducing the Beta-4 - …downloads.pearsonassessments.com/videos/062916-Beta4/Beta-4-Intr… · Beta-III: Easy and efficient way to evaluate diverse adult groups • Adults: 16:0-89:11(now

Introducing the Beta‐4Anne‐Marie Kimbell, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2016. Pearson, Inc., or its affiliates. All rights reserved 1

Introducing the Beta-4

Anne-Marie Kimbell, Ph.D.

June 29, 2016

Beta-4 Agenda

Beta Background

Beta-4 Revision

Beta-4 Strengths and Applications

Beta-4 Administration and Scoring

Beta-4 Technical Properties



Beta Background

Heritage going back to 1934 (Beta-III 1999)

Beta-III: Easy and efficient way to evaluate diverse adult groups • Adults: 16:0-89:11(now to 99+)• Nonverbal assessment of cognitive abilities• Proctored group or individual administration in Spanish or English• Paper and Pencil only • Qualification Level B• Completion Time: 30 minutes for 5 subtests• Scores/Interpretation: Scaled Scores, General IQ Score, Percentile Ranks

(now Scaled Scores, Beta-4 IQ Score, Percentile Ranks, SEM, CI)

Available NOW!

Current Revision Features

• Spoken Directions• Updated Normative Sample (n=1035)• New and Expanded Evidence of Validity• New Special Group Studies• Link to Academic Achievement• Correctional Applications

Available NOW!



Strengths

• Efficient• Flexible Administration Format

• Group• Individual

• Multiple Tests• Nonverbal• Easy to Use• Low Floor

Applications

• Assess nonverbal intellectual ability of adolescents and adults.• Quick estimate of general intellectual ability• Industrial organizations hiring large numbers of unskilled workers• Occupational rehabilitation & Job Training Programs• Identify academic problems in individuals with low nonverbal ability• Evaluate specific cognitive deficits that may contribute to low academic

achievement• Predict future academic achievement• Correctional Settings



Applications: Correctional Settings• Required mental health screening often includes intelligence

assessment.• Assess intelligence in order to maximize use of additional program

resources. • NCCHC standards state that post-admission mental health

assessment should include intelligence tests to screen for intellectual disability among inmates.

• ABA recommends initial screening to identify potential security risks including vulnerability to abuse.

• ABA also recommends screening upon admission to identify issues requiring immediate assessment or attention…[to include] special education eligibility.

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Materials

• Manual• Response Booklet • Scoring Key

Clinician also needs:StopwatchPencil for clinician useTwo pencils with eraser per examineeAdditional blank Response Booklet



Administration

• Approximately 25-30 minutes• One proctor for every 15 examinees• Adequate space for group administration• Establish rapport prior to testing• Reschedule late arrivals or those who have extreme difficulty

understanding the directions or practice problems.• Test in only one language in a single group session.

Administration guidelines continued

Time limits• Use timing device and strictly adhere to time limits.

Coaching• Coaching invalidates results; be careful not to hint at responses.

Guessing• Encourage examinee to take best guess if necessary.

Erasing• Permitted, but may need to remind that some difficulty is normal.

Skipping• Encourage examinee to take their best guess rather than skipping.



5 Tests

Test Abbreviation Time Limit Description

Coding CD 2 minutes Using a key, the examinee writes the numbers that correspond to geometric-like symbols.

Picture Absurdities

PA 3 minutes The examinee draws a mark (/) through the one picture out of four that shows something that is illogical or foolish.

Clerical Checking

CC 2 minutes The examinee circles the equal (=) or not equal (≠) sign to indicate if pairs of pictures, symbols, or numbers are the same or different.

Picture Completion

PC 2 minutes 30 seconds

The examinee draws what is missing to complete a picture.

Matrix Reasoning

MR 5 minutes The examinee chooses the missing symbol or picture that best completes a set of four symbols or pictures.

Scoring

1. Calculate Test Total Raw Scores

2. Convert Total Raw Scores to Scaled Scores

3. Derive the Beta-4 IQ Score

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Subtest Maximum Total Raw Score

Coding 137

Picture Absurdities 24

Clerical Checking 55

Picture Completion 27

Matrix Reasoning 29



Interpretation

Scaled Scores (individual test scores)Mean of 10; SD of 3, Range 1-19

Standard Score (Beta-4 IQ score)Mean of 100, SD 0f 15, Range 45-155

Percentile RanksStandard Errors of MeasurementConfidence Intervals

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Beta-4 IQ Score Qualitative Descriptors

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Ability-Achievement Analysis for the Identification of a Specific Learning DisabilitySimple-Difference method:• Subtract Wechsler Fundamental: Academic Skills standard score from

the Beta-4 IQ score. • Consider statistical significance of the difference and the frequency

(base rate).

Predicted-difference method:• Uses the ability score in a regression equation to predict the expected

achievement score.

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Beta-4 Norms

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Reliability & Validity

Reliability –Evidence of test score reliability informs practitioners about the accuracy of obtained scores.

Validity –Test score validity indicates the degree to which the score measures what it purports to measure.

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Test-Retest Reliability

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Validity

Relations with other measures:Beta-IIIWAIS-IVWechsler Fundamentals: Academic Skills

Special Group Studies:Individuals from Correctional FacilitiesIndividuals with Mild or Moderate Intellectual DisabilityIndividuals with ADHDIndividuals who are Spanish SpeakersIndividual with English as a Second LanguageIndividuals with Specific Learning Disability

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Validity

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Resources/Information

www.pearsonclinical.com/Beta-4

Customer Service

[email protected]

800.627.7271

Documents

Introducing the Beta-4 - …downloads.pearsonassessments.com/videos/062916-Beta4/Beta-4-Intr… · Beta-III: Easy and efficient way to evaluate diverse adult groups • Adults: 16:0-89:11(now