The Drawing of the Human Figure in Madeira Island: Evidence of Validity

Abstract Human figure drawing (HFD) is one of the most widely tests used to assess children's intellectual development. This study investigated the evidence of the validity and reliability of HFD for children in Madeira using Wechsler`s scoring system. The sample included 489 children (49% girls), 5-13 years old, from schools in the 1st and 2nd cycles of the education system. The instruments were: HFD, Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) test, and school grades (Portuguese and Mathematics). There were differences by age, gender, and the figure drawn. The correlations between HFD, CPM, and school grades were significant. Reliability was satisfactory (>0.80). In conclusion, the Wechsler’s scoring system for HFD has evidence of validity and reliability for children in Madeira indicating the possibility of its use after obtaining Portuguese norms.