Predictive Validity of Assessments of Early Cognitive Competence in Light of Some Current Issues in Developmental Psychology

The low predictive validity of infant tests is discussed in light of some current issues in developmental psychology. The main issues considered are continuity-discontinuity in the development of early cognitive-competence, the problem of intellectual heterogeneity, and the issue of individual-environment transactions. Some suggestions concerning how predictive validity may be increased are discussed, as well as the choice of criteria other than predictive validity for evaluating the usefulness of infant tests

Cognition · Cognitive development · Cognitive psychology · Competence (human resources) · Developmental psychology · Incremental validity · Predictive validity · Psychometrics · Test validity · Educational and Psychological Assessments · Psychology · Social Psychology