Purpose of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test (GHDT) aims to assess nonverbal intelligence through the analysis of human figure drawings. It is mainly intended for children aged 5 to 17 and is widely used by psychologists, educators, and special education specialists. The test seeks to measure accuracy of observation, analogical thinking, and attention to detail.

Questionnaire (Scale) Analysis

The GHDT was originally created by Goodenough in 1926 and revised by Harris in 1963, while the Greek adaptation was conducted by Alexopoulos and Sygkolitou. The test includes three drawings: a male figure, a female figure, and a self-portrait. Each drawing is evaluated on the basis of 73 specific items, leading to an individual administration of the test with no time limit.

Scoring of Items

The maximum possible score is 219 points, as each of the 73 items is scored with 1 (present) or 0 (absent), and applied across the three drawings. Scoring is categorized into three main domains: anatomical proportions (32 items), clothing details (25 items), and spatial perspective (16 items).

Statistical Analysis

Raw scores are converted into standardized scores with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Standard scores between 85 and 115 are considered average, between 70 and 84 indicate below-average performance, while a score below 70 may suggest possible cognitive delay. The GHDT shows high correlations with other intelligence tests, such as Raven’s Progressive Matrices (0.62–0.68) and the WISC Performance IQ (0.71).

Validity of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The construct validity of the GHDT has been confirmed through factor analysis, as reported by Alexopoulos (1999). Criterion validity is supported by the strong correlations of the test with other validated measures of intelligence.

Reliability of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The GHDT demonstrates a high level of reliability. Overall internal consistency is α = 0.95, while for the subscales it ranges from α = 0.79 to 0.94. Inter-rater reliability reaches levels of 0.91–0.93, and test-retest reliability over a six-month period is reported at r = 0.89.

References

Greek References
Alexopoulos, D., & Sakellari, M. (1999). Reliability and validity of the Goodenough-Harris Test. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 12(2), 45–62.
International References
Goodenough, F.L. (1926). Measurement of Intelligence by Drawings. Harcourt Brace.
Harris, D.B. (1963). Children’s Drawings as Measures of Intellectual Maturity. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Smith, J. (2021). Contemporary use of drawing tests. Journal of Psychological Assessment, 39(3), 112–125.

Keywords

nonverbal intelligence, cognitive assessment, drawing test, human figure drawings, psychometrics, GHDT