Denver Developmental Screening Test Norms: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Abstract

Norms on the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) developed in Denver, Metro-Manila, Tokyo, Okinawa, and the Netherlands were compared. The ages at which each DDST item was passed by 50% of the sample groups were compared using the z statistic. Items that were attained significantly earlier, later, and around the same age by the Metro-Manila children compared to the other groups were determined. The Metro-Manila children performed similarly on the test as the Tokyo and Okinawa children on the gross motor, fine motor-adaptive, language, and personal-social sectors of the test. Denver children were advanced on all sectors. The Dutch children were advanced on all sectors except the gross motor. The implications of the findings and the possible reasons for the differences are discussed.