The McCarthy Scales: Predictive Validity and Stability of Scores for Urban Black Children

Abstract

The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA) was admin istered to 80 urban black children when they were preschoolers. Five years later, 68 of these children were retested with this scale. Scores on these two administrations were interrelated and were also corre lated with reading test scores, IQ scores of parents, and amount of parental education. The summary MSCA score, called the General Cognitive Index, proved valid in the five-year predictive correlation. Both preschool and school year scores on the MSCA were related to parent IQ scores and standing on reading scales. Although less con sistent, each of the five scale scores demonstrated validity in the cor- relational analysis. The data supported the conclusion that the MSCA demonstrated predictive and concurrent validity with dis advantaged urban children.

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