Daniel Marx, Betty Kiesling, and Daphne Francois

Author: Lloyd M. Dunn, Leota M. Dunn, and Douglas M. Dunn, in collaboration with Kathleen T. Williams

Publisher: American Guidance Services, Inc.

Address of Publisher: 4201 Woodland Road Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796

Phone Number of Publisher: 1-800-328-2560

Purpose of Test: The test is designed to measure verbal and receptive language and ability in Standard American English.

• The PPVT-III standardized

• individually-administered

• un-timed• norm-referenced • wide-range

• A vocabulary test used to assess vocabulary skills, single word lexical knowledge and receptive language skills in children and adults from 2.5 years of age to 90+ years old.

The test materials consist of the PPVT-III Record Booklets A and B, examiner’s manual, norms booklet, grade-based norms booklet, technical manual, PPVT-III form B and form A, PPVT-III-A easel and PPVT-III-B easel

Type of Test: Standardized; norm-referenced

Administration Time: 11-15 minutes (12 minutes preferred) for individual administration

Type of Administration: Individual

Who Administers This Test: Psychologist, special educators, speech and language therapists, general education teacher

Age/Grade Levels: Ages 2.5-90+

Subtest Information: There are no subtests for the PPVT-III

Scoring Information: Scores are presented in the following manners:

Age levels Standard scores-range- 40-160

converted from raw scores and are based on the examinee’s chronological age in years and months.

To convert a raw score to a standard score, use Table 1 in the Norms Booklet

Locate the examinees raw score in the table then scroll across to see corresponding equivalent standard score. Then transfer the score to the correct indicated space on the Performance Record.

Percentile Rank-converted from the standard scores using Table 2 in the Norms Booklet

The first column lists standard score. To obtain the percentile rank that corresponds with the standard score, read across the next three columns to find the appropriate score.

Record this value in the designated space in the Record of Scores box on the front page of the Performance Record.

Normal Curve Equivalent – Follow the same steps as for percentile rank.

The age equivalent is converted from the raw score using Table 3 in the Norms Booklet for Form IIIA and Table 4 for Form IIIB. Locate the examinee’s raw score in the left column and then read across to the next column, which will give the age equivalent for that raw score in years and months. Record this value in the appropriate space in the Record Scores box on the front of the Performance Record

Stanine – Use the same procedure as for the percentile rank and normal curve equivalent

Deviation-type norm – Used to verify that the percentile rank, normal curve equivalent, and stanine are approximately correct.

Strengths of the PPVT-III Untimed if needed. Used with children and adults with

physical and speech/language impairments

Non-verbal responses are acceptable Easy to administer and score Testing instructions are easy to follow Strong reliability and validity

Weaknesses of the PPVT-III Not recommended to be used with

children and adults from low socio-economic statuses

Construct validity still under investigation

Results are not valid for examinees who are English language learners and examinees with severe visual impairments

Receptive Vocabulary- The body of words that a person recognizes and understands well enough to comprehend them when read or heard. Also known as the listening vocabulary, it contains the productive, or expressive vocabulary.

Receptive Language Disorder - Receptive language disorder is a type of learning disability affecting the ability to understand spoken, and sometimes written, language. Students with receptive language disorders often have difficulty with speech and organizing their thoughts, which creates problems in communicating verbally with others and in organizing their thoughts on paper.

Lexical- 1. Of or relating

to the vocabulary, words, or morphemes of a language.

2. Of or relating to lexicography or a lexicon.

Lexical words- nouns referring to things

Linguistics- The study of the nature, structure, and variation of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.

Pragmatics- The branch of semiotics that deals with the relationship between signs, especially words and other elements of language, and their users.

Expressive Vocabulary- The words whose meanings are known well enough to an individual that he or she would feel comfortable using them while writing or speaking. A person's expressive vocabulary is generally smaller than the receptive, or listening vocabulary, which includes words whose meanings may be only partially understood.

Oral Language- Spoken aspect of language that can be heard, interpreted, and understood (Note: Do not confuse with the behavioral concept of "Speech Communication").

It is estimated that between three and five percent of children have a receptive or expressive language disorder, or a mixture of both, and there is no standard set of symptoms that indicates receptive language disorder, since it varies from one child to the next. However, symptoms may include:

Not seeming to listen when they are spoken to;

Lack of interest when story books are read to them;

Inability to understand complicated sentences;

Inability to follow verbal instructions;

Parroting words or phrases (echolalia);

Language skills below the expected level for their age;

Sometimes, inability too understand written language

Difficulty with the speech Inability to organize their thoughts which

creates problems in communicating verbally with others;

Difficulty organizing their thoughts on paper;

May present difficulty understanding spoken language

Dunn, L.M., Dunn, L.M., & Dunn, D.M. (1997). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Third, Edition. MN: American Guidance Service, Inc.\

Schwartz , T. (2006). Glossary of education. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/definition/receptive-vocabulary

State Government of Victoria, (2010). Receptive language disorder. Retrieved from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/receptive_language_disorder