A longitudinal study of the predictive validity of the Bayley-III scales and subtests

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive validity of all scales and subtests from the Bayley-III. The sample consisted of 55 normal children who were assessed at six time points between 4 and 36 months. Significant correlations ranging from .28 to .79 were found for all ages and scales/subtests, but the three main scales differed with respect to predictive validity. The Cognitive Scale was predictive from 7–10, 7–13 and 10–13 months but not from 13 months and onwards. The Language Scale was predictive from 10 months and onwards and the Motor Scale was predictive at all ages, but only with respect to adjacent and not distant assessment points.

Keywords:

• Bayley-III
• predictive validity
• infant testing
• developmental assessment

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the participating families for their willingness to take part in this project. We also thank Thomas W. Teasdale who assisted in critiquing the manuscript. None of the authors report any financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.