Purpose

The purpose of the test is to assess children’s cognitive abilities, along with a set of other tests, or for diagnostic purposes. This particular tool was developed with the aim of revising and modernizing the scoring criteria for the Goodenough–Harris test, improving the approach from a psychometric perspective.

Test Administration Instructions

This is a non-verbal test that requires drawing human figures and can be administered individually or in groups. The administration time is approximately 5 minutes for each drawing. Since the test does not require formal verbal communication or a specific language, it is suitable for assessing children from minority or culturally diverse backgrounds, as well as children who may have speech or expressive difficulties.

Scoring

Scoring is based on a 64-point evaluation system for drawings of a man, a woman, and the self. Scores are given for completeness in depicting body parts, the accuracy of these depictions, the consistency of the figure’s form, and the proportion in which these elements appear in the drawings. Factor analysis revealed the presence of a general factor.

Sample and Research

The test has been studied in a Greek child sample, and cross-cultural validity and reliability studies have been conducted. Current research indicates no significant differences between the Greek child sample and the American sample, suggesting that the tool has good cross-cultural applicability. Comparisons with other assessment methods show that it demonstrates high validity and repeatability as an assessment tool.

Validity

In the study by Bardos, Softas, and Petrogiannis (1989), high and significant correlations were found between the scores of the individual drawings and the total Naglieri test score, compared to the Goodenough–Harris test (standardized in Greece by D. Georgas), thus supporting the convergent validity of Naglieri’s scoring system.

Reliability

Internal consistency indices in the Greek sample, both for the overall score (general factor) and for the three individual drawings (ranging from 0.85 to 0.90), appear to be highly satisfactory.

Key References

Bardos, A. N., Softas, B. C., & Petrogiannis, K. (1989). Comparison of the Goodenough-Harris and Naglieri’s Draw-a-Person scoring systems for Greek children. School Psychology International, 10, 205–209.
Bardos, A. N., Softas, B., & Petrogiannis, K. (1991). Comparison of the scoring systems of Goodenough–Harris and Naglieri’s Draw-a-Person for Greek children. Psychological Issues, 4, 363–368 (partial translation).
Naglieri, J. A. (1988). Draw-a-Person: A Quantitative Scoring System. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
Naglieri, J. A., & Bardos, A. N. (1987). Draw-a-Person and Matrix Analogies Test’s cross-cultural validity. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, Louisiana.