تقنين مقياس لايتر-3 للذكاء غير اللفظي على ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة في البيئة السعودية وفق نظرية الاستجابة للفقرة
This study aimed to translate and adapt the Leiter International Performance Scale, third edition, utilizing a sample of special needs individuals in the Saudi environment according to item response theory. The purpose was to validate the performance of the scale’s nonverbal aspect which distinguishes it from traditional intelligence measures in evaluating cognitive abilities in persons with speech or language difficulties. This study followed a descriptive method and included a sample of 802 children (boys and girls) aged 6 to 12 years old. The sample included children from the Central, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Provinces of Saudi Arabia. The children were recruited from day care centers, elementary schools, and philanthropic associations in Riyadh, Dammam, Tabuk, Taif, and Khamis Mushayt, and four special needs categories were included: autism spectrum, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, and learning difficulties. The results showed indication of a dominant factor, favoring one-dimensionality, and verified the assumptions of local item independency and speediness and that data extracted from the Leiter-3 fit the biparameter model. In addition, suitable test information function values were generated. The results also revealed that the scale has good reliability indicators. Recommendations include the need to test the scale further and with samples of more advanced age, providing researchers in the fields of education and psychology with a final version of the scale, and raising the awareness of those who specialize in psychological assessment of the importance of using the item response theory when analyzing and developing test items and scales and of the use of this scale for testing nonverbal intelligence with clinical and developmental disorder groups. (Published abstract)