Young children have, in varying degrees, developmental limitations
on several important (and often unrecognized) dimensions
that can affect assessment. We have made reference above to the
nascent state of the ability to focus and attend in children of the
ages of concern in this report. Likewise, the capacity to be purposeful
and intentional, although undergoing rapid development,
is certainly less than fully formed. In assessment situations, therefore,
young children often have difficulty attending to verbal instructions,
situational clues, or other instructions and stimuli.
They may have difficulty understanding the demand characteristics
of the measurement situation, and they may not be able to
control their behavior sufficiently to meet these demands (Gelman
and Gallistel, 1978).