Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test Analysis

Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition: Test Critique
Brandon Owensby
Lenoir-Rhyne University

Psychological Assessment
420
Gordon Cappelletty
April 25, 2014

Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition
A.S. Kaufman & N. L. Kaufman
Pearson, Inc. 2004
Description of Test
The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition, also referred to as KBIT-2, is a test designed to measure verbal and nonverbal intelligence in people ages 4 to 90 years of age (Harris, 2013). The KBIT-2 has three subtests: two Verbal subtests and one Nonverbal subtests. The KBIT-2 Manuel typically takes between 15 to 30 depending on the age of the participant (Kaufman & Kaufman, 1990). This is shown in Table 1, with the distribution of times and how they change depending on age.
The original KBIT had three subtests: Expressive Vocabulary, Matrices, and Definitions (Kaufman & Kaufman, 1990). When the revising process came around, Kaufman and Kaufman decided to substitute the Verbal Knowledge subtest with the Definitions subtest, replaced the Expressive Vocabulary with the Riddles subtest, and they revised the Matrices subtest in order to highlight fluid reasoning over visualization (Bain & Jaspers, 2010). The test authors replaced the Definitions subtest because it required a reading requirement, so they replaced it with the Verbal Knowledge subtest because the subject was not required to read anything and this allowed for a more efficient measure of verbal ability. The decision to replace the Expressive Vocabulary subtest was because the Riddles subtest could be administered to subjects of all ages.
The KBIT-2 has many different applications including job applications, intellectual profiles in test of batteries, crime scene investigations...

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... subtest, while other portions only answers are accepted in Spanish, Riddles subtest. This is not ideal for families that are primarily Spanish speaking and the test results may contain some translation error. Also, the Manual states that for subjects with language related differences or culture differences the verbal subtests are not recommended.
Not only does the KBIT-2 lack in accommodating for cultural and language barriers, but it is also deficient towards those with mild to moderate motor difficulties due to the fact that the test requires minimal motor skills (Bain & Jaspers, 2010). However, since the test does not require time limits individuals with mild motor difficulties could be assessed. Overall, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition appears to be psychometrically strong and feasible assessment to administer (Bain & Jaspers, 2010).