Assessing the relationship between intelligence and the PEAK relational training system

• We assessed the relationship between a new assessment and curriculum guide, the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge Relational Training System: Direct Training Module (PEAK) and scores on IQ tests for 50 children with autism.
• Results indicate a strong, positive relation between scores PEAK and scores from IQ tests.
• The results indicate the PEAK assessment is sensitive to the same skills and deficits as IQ tests and implicate its future role as a tool in training language and learning skills.

The Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) Relational Training System is an assessment and curriculum tool developed for basic and advanced skills using behavior analytic approaches. The current study evaluated the relationship between intelligence (as measured by IQ scores) and performance on the PEAK assessment with children with autism or other developmental and intellectual disabilities. Each child was administered the PEAK assessment from the Direct Training Module. Scores from this assessment were compared to IQ scores for all participants to assess the relationship between the two measures. Results indicated a strong, significant correlation between scores on standardized IQ tests and scores on the PEAK assessment (r = .759, p < .01). The results demonstrated strong convergent validity and indicate that the PEAK may be a useful assessment and curriculum guide for training language and learning skills to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.