The accuracy of maternal reports regarding their children’s mathematical and language abilities. A comparison of maternal estimates and actual test scores of children between 6 and 10 years of age
Marie-Claire Frischknecht, Giselle Reimann, Janine Gut, Thomas Ledermann, Alexander Grob (2014)
Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische P 46(2), 67-78
Abstract
In this study maternal estimations of child achievement in mathematics and language were compared to the children’s achievement in a standardized mathematics and language test using the Intelligence and Development Scales (IDS 5 – 10, N = 382 children 6 to 10 years of age). A significant positive correlation was observed between mothers’ estimations and actual test achievement. Mothers generally overestimated their children’s achievement. Boys were estimated to score higher in mathematics compared to girls, and girls were estimated to score higher in language compared to boys. Mothers overestimated, underestimated, or correctly estimated the achievement of girls and boys equally often. The present results confirm maternal overestimation of child abilities, which has often been found and replicated with respect to general development. The present study extended this finding to the field of scholastic achievement.
Categories: Diagnostik, Teilleistungsstörungen
Keywords: diagnostic competence, accuracy of parent judgment, parental assessment, parental beliefs, developmental assessment, conceptions of abilities, gender differences