Dunn, L. And D.M. Dunn.

Dunn, L. And D.M. Dunn. (2007). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test.-Review: Kush, J. (2007). The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, typically known as PPVT-III is in individual intelligence test designed to measure an individual's receptive (aural) vocabulary development in American Standard English. It is a quick estimate of an individual's verbal ability and scholastic attitude, specifically designed for use in special education populations. It is not a new test, having been created in 1959, but continually updated. The test itself is relatively short, under 15 minutes.

No reading is required by the individual, and the scoring is done on the spot and is objective. This is advantageous for a quick understanding of a student's ability without lengthy exam preparation or scoring. Basically, the examiner shows a series of pictures to the individual; four pictures per page, and each is numbered. The examiner states a word describing one of the pictures and asks the student to point to or say the number of the picture that the describes the verbal clue.

Depending on age and ability, responses may also be made based on multiple choice selections. When the test is complete, the total score is easily converted to a percentile rank, mental age, or a standard deviation of an IQ score. No special training is required to administer and score the test; but interpreters should have at least some basic knowledge of psychological testing. Over the years, the authors have changed many of the pictures to represent more relevant cultural actions.

Indeed, the reviewers note that based on decades of studies with special populations (speech impairments, language or hearing disorders, retardation, emotional distrubance, and even gifted children) the results of the test are suprisingly robust as a basic way to evaluate vocabulary. Too, variations of the PPVT-III have been extended both upward and downward from 2 years of age to 90+ in order to establish more basal norms for extended populations.

The advantages of the PPVT-III are that it provides a quick estimate of the individua;'s verbal intelligence and can be administered to groups with reading problems or cognitive developmental issues. Because the individual may either speak or point to one of the four pictures that best fits the verbal clue, it is also useful in rehabilitation after brain or other injuries, but who have good hearing or vision skils.

The test seems to also have high interest value, and is "fun" enough to establish appropriate rapport between the examiner and the client. The test is also useful when assessing the English vocabulary level of ESL students. Documentation with the test cautions that vocabular is acquired knowledge that does have strong theoretical relationships to cognitive abilities, there is a difference between vocabular and verbal development. The scale is not designed, then, to predict future academic achievement, but only individual scores based on a slice of time.

Of course, the test cannot be used on the blind or deaf population, but may be accurately used with various forms of.