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Roid, G. H. (2003). Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB:V). Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing.
The fifth edition of the Stanford-Binet intelligence test (SB:V) has been developed with rather dramatic changes from what we saw in the fourth edition (SB:IV). In the years since Binet's pioneering work 100 years ago, the SB:V shows remarkable qualities that demonstrate the work toward perfection in reconstructing a technical instrument. Furthermore, the SB:V has attempted to refine the definition of intelligence by identifying with the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theoretical model of cognitive abilities.
Changes From the Previous Edition
Test design for the SB:V employed many of the new rules of measurement, including methods such as calibrating items in an extensive item pool and adaptive testing through the use of routing subtests. The routing procedure of the SB:V has increased the precision of measurement (Roid, 2003).
Many familiar subtests of previous editions remain, such as Picture Absurdities, Matrices, Vocabulary, Memory for Sentences, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Absurdities. Naturally this fifth edition includes modernization of artwork as well as item content.
In our view, the SB:V creatively uses the same five factors (Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Reasoning, and Working Memory) in both verbal and non-verbal forms. The SB:V now provides four Intelligence Score Composites, five Factor Indices, ten Subtest Scores, Percentile Ranks, Age Equivalents, and a Change-Sensitive Score. Moreover, computer scoring allows for reduced error and increased diagnostic precision.
The most significant change of all is the development of norms from age 2 to age 85. This makes the use of the SB:V more accessible in every institution or agency.
The SB:V now has two routing tests, as opposed to one routing test as in the previous edition, to estimate the examinee's ability and to route him or her to the remaining subtests at the most efficient level of difficulty. The IQs now have a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15, with subtests having a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. The SB:V also has discrepancy procedures with achievement tests, specifically with the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement, Third Edition (WJ-III). As usual, this new edition, as with every revision, has improved floor and ceiling items as well as improved design for assessing preschoolers and adults alike.