The universal nonverbal intelligence test (UNIT) is a comprehensive tool designed for assessing a person's non-verbal communication abilities. This test is non-verbal because it evaluates a person's responses through observing their body language, facial expressions, and eye contact without relying on verbal or written responses.
The history of the UNIT dates back to the 1960s, where it was developed by psychologists from several universities. Since then, it has become a widely used and respected resource for evaluating intelligence in both clinical and educational settings.
The unit measures several aspects of non-verbal communication, including:
- Symbolic memory: This subtest evaluates a person's ability to remember and use symbols and patterns.
- Nonsymbolic quantity: This subtest assesses a person's ability to understand and use numbers and objects without visually representing them.
- Analogic reasoning: This subtest measures a person's ability to understand and reason about analogies and relationships between objects or ideas.
- Spatial memory: This subtest evaluates a person's ability to remember and use spatial information, such as the location and arrangement of objects.
- Numerical series: This subtest assesses a person's ability to identify patterns and structures in numerical sequences.
- Cube design: This subtest measures a person's ability to construct and manipulate three-dimensional objects.
The test is conducted by an examiner who uses a variety of gestures and demonstrations to explain the tasks to the person being tested. The person then responds through various modalities, including pointing, writing, or using manipulatives.
UNIT scores are used to predict academic achievement and to differentiate among students with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, speech/language impairments, or gifts. The test is valuable for identifying students who may be at risk for academic difficulties and for monitoring progress over time.
Overall, the universal nonverbal intelligence test is a reliable and valid tool for assessing non-verbal communication abilities. It provides a comprehensive overview of a person's non-verbal intelligence, allowing for appropriate accommodations and support.