There is a fair amount of data on what the average child draws for human figures at different ages, so clinicians used to use DAP (or HFD--human figure drawing) as a measure of mental age (cognitive ability and developmental level). A whole literature, including multiple possible scoring systems for cognition, development, emotional markers, etc., exists around it. (Not with particularly robust psychometric qualities, though.) These days, most clinicians I know use it mainly as a rapport-building exercise, a vehicle for clinical interview, and a loose screener for visual-spatial skills.

It's still popular with kindergarten teachers, and consequently often a component of kindergarten screening protocols.

It can be amusing to play with, but I wouldn't place too much weight on any score obtained, especially if it's regarding anything other than visual-spatial skills.

HID, you can tell your DD that it doesn't have strong statistical properties, so it's not rigorous evidentiary support for her claim. wink

blackcat, a test like this cannot be used reliably with any child, with or without 2e!


...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...