The Revised Beta Examination (Beta II) is evaluated in this research. The findings of the evaluation are presented in relation to (1) test description, (2) purpose of the test and population target, (3) test norm population, (4) factors measured by the test, (5) test strengths and weaknesses, and (6) test reliability and validity.
The Revised Beta Examination is designed as a group test, although the instrument can be administered on an individual basis (Kellogg & Morton, 1978, p. 3). The Revised Beta Examination is a nonverbal general intelligence test.
The basic revision of the Beta Examination was performed by C. E. Kellogg and N. W. Morton. The most recent revision of the test in 1984 was performed by Robert Lindner and Milton Gurvit. The Revised Beta Examination is published by The Psychological Corporation.
The Revised Beta Examination is designed to measure the "general intellectual ability of persons who are relatively illiterate, or non-English speaking, or suspected of having other language difficulties. It may also be used as a nonverbal measure for members of the general population" (Kellogg & Morton, p. 3). The Beta Examination instrument has undergone several revisions since the introduction of the Group Examination Beta in 1920 (Hsu, 1989, p. 1276). At present, however, the Revised Beta Examination, known as Beta II, is the only version (form) available.
The Group Examination Beta was developed by the United States Army during the First World War for the assessment of the intellectual ability of illiterate recruits, and the instrument was formalized in 1920 (Kellogg & Morton, p. 3). The Group Examination Beta was revised in 1934 to make the instrument more suitable for use civilian purposes. The 1934 revision was designated as the Revised Beta Examination. A second revision of the instrument was introduced in 1978. Since that time, the 1934 revision has been know as the Revised Beta Examination, F...