This study was done with the aim of assessing the intellectual maturity of children attending typical free primary schools in Ibadan. Human figure drawings produced by 416 boys and 766 girls attending two non-fee paying primary schools were scored using the scoring system introduced by Koppitz. Data analysis shows that intellectual maturity, measured by the scores on the human figure drawings, is significantly related to age. In addition there is a significant interaction between age and sex: girls tend to score higher than boys at certain ages. The findings are discussed in relation to the effects of age, sex and social class, and the use of human figure drawings to measure intellectual maturity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArmitageP.Statistical methods in medical research. Oxford: Black-well, 1971.
2.
BakareC.G.M.Social class differences in the performance of Nigerian children on the Draw-a-man test. In: CronbachJ.L.DrenthO.J.D. (Eds.), Mental tests and cultural adaptation. The Hague: Mouton, 1972.
3.
GoodenoughF.Measurement of intelligence by drawings. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1926.
4.
HarrisD.B.Children's drawings as measures of intellectual maturity. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1963.
5.
JegedeR.O.Performance of Nigerian Children on the Draw-a-Person Test. Afr. J. Psychiat., 1980. In Press.
6.
KoppitzE.M.Psychological evaluation of children's human figure drawings. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1968.
7.
MindeK.KantorS.Instructing Ugandan primary school children in the execution of an intelligence test — a controlled evaluation. J. Cr.-cul. Psychol., 1976, 7, 209–222.
