Test-Retest Stability and Concurrent Validity of Two Reading Tests With a Drug-Abusing Population

Abstract

The Wide Range Achievement Test—Revised (WRAT-R) and Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests—Revised (WRMT-R) were administered twice to 269 current drug abusers over an average time interval of 204.20 days. Stability coefficients were very strong, ranging from .84 to .94. Correlations between the two instruments, ranging between .72 and .90, demonstrated strong concurrent validity. Average reading scores and grade equivalent scores were significantly higher at the second test. Exploratory data analyses revealed no demographic or drug-taking variables related to this increase. No relationship between length of interval and difference scores was found. Overall, this study demonstrated that the two instruments have strong psychometric properties and that the results obtained from current drug abusers are reliable.

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