Concurrent Validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Expressive Vocabulary Test in First-Grade Students
Keywords:
Concurrent Validity, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT), Students, First GradeAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) and the Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT) among first-grade students and to determine the degree of association between the scores obtained from the different forms of these vocabulary assessment instruments.
Methods and Materials: This psychometric and methodological study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all first-grade students in Tehran. A sample of 150 students was selected using stratified random sampling with equal allocation from five geographical regions of the city, including the north, south, east, west, and central districts. Data were collected using the fifth edition of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the third edition of the Expressive Vocabulary Test, both of which possess satisfactory psychometric properties. Concurrent validity was evaluated by calculating Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients between Forms A and B of the two instruments.
Findings: The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between Form A of the PPVT and Form A of the EVT (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was also found between Form A of the PPVT and Form B of the EVT (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Furthermore, Form B of the PPVT showed significant positive correlations with Form A of the EVT (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) and Form B of the EVT (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). These coefficients indicate moderate to strong positive associations across all form comparisons, supporting substantial convergence between receptive and expressive vocabulary measures.
Conclusion: The findings provide strong evidence for the concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test in relation to the Expressive Vocabulary Test. Therefore, the PPVT can be considered a valid instrument for assessing receptive vocabulary and may be effectively used alongside the EVT to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of language abilities, identify learning difficulties, and support educational and clinical decision-making processes in first-grade students.
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