Abstract
Research is necessary to establish reliability and validity for the Koppitz method of scoring the Bender-Gestalt test. To help clarify the utility of the Bender technique with the first grade child 654 protocols were scored and various analyses conducted. An item analysis was done showing the frequency of each type “error;” reliability coefficients for three examiners scoring independently were established; items which were most difficult for examiners to score were identified; an hypothesis as to why these were the most difficult items was tested; and some suggestions were made as to why examiners make certain scoring errors. Error items vary widely in their incidence for first grade 6-yr.-old child, with certain Koppitz error items occurring 92% of the time and othes as infrequently as 1%. Nevertheless, reliability of scoring for three examiners is very high, ranging between .91 and .96. Certain items are difficult for examiners to agree upon and these are the items children have difficulty executing. The authors feel the Bender-Gestalt technique has utility for the 6-yr.-old and the Koppitz method of scoring adds significantly to the interpretation of such reproductions.
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