Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (KABC-II), published by American Guidance Service, is designed to measure cognitive processing and aptitude in children ages 3 through 18. It can be administered nonverbally to children who have hearing impairments, limited English proficiency, or language disorders, and it can be adapted for use with children from diverse cultural backgrounds. The instrument can be used in combination with other assessment tools to identify children with cognitive and academic deficits such as mental retardation or learning disabilities; children with cognitive processing difficulties; and children who have cognitive giftedness. Interpretation of KABC-II scores can also help identify a child's cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

The KABC-II may be administered in 30–90 minutes, depending upon the age and ability of the child. Altogether, the instrument contains 18 subtests. For each age group, 5–10 of the subtests are identified as “core” subtests and are recommended to obtain an optimal measure of cognitive functioning across five main areas (or scales). The Sequential Processing Scale contains short-term memory tasks; for example, children listen to a series of simple words and recite them in order. The Simultaneous Processing Scale focuses on children's ability to process visual stimuli. Tasks include using a two-dimensional diagram to construct a tower of blocks. The Learning Scale measures long-term memory by presenting novel learning tasks and measuring the child's ability to remember and apply new knowledge. The Planning Scale includes fluid reasoning tasks; for example, children are required to solve problems logically. Finally, the Knowledge Scale measures vocabulary and other verbal skills by having the child complete tasks such as naming pictures. The results from these scales also produce a global scale, which represents a measure of the child's overall cognitive functioning.

This instrument was updated in 2004 and includes significant changes from the first edition. The age range has been expanded to include children up to age 18, and stimulus items have been revised to engage very young children as well as to challenge adolescents. The first edition of the KABC was firmly grounded in Luria's simultaneous-sequential cognitive processing model, which separates intelligence into two parts: (a) processing that leads to finding interrelationships and (b) processing that allows for arranging information logically. The KABC-II preserves Luria's model, but also introduces a “dual theoretical model” by incorporating the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive processing. The CHC theory also separates intelligence into two parts: (a) fluid intelligence, which incorporates both pieces of Luria's model, and (b) crystallized intelligence, which reflects acquired knowledge. This change has resulted in several new subtests, as well as the addition of the Learning, Planning, and Knowledge Scales.