ABSTRACT
Hand-preference assessment. O n this eight-item task, the chi ld was asked to draw a line with a pencil, use an eraser, show how to use a comb, a toothbrush, a hammer, a spoon, cut a sheet o f paper with scissors, and cut clay wi th a knife (De Agost in i & Dellatolas, 1988). Right-hand, both-hands, and left-hand actions were coded 1,2, and 3, respectively. A total handedness score (HS) was calculated. H S thus ranges from 8 (extreme right-hander, i.e., 8 right-hand answers) to 24 (extreme left-hander, i.e., 8 left-hand answers). A l s o , a degree o f handedness score (DHS) was calculated by using the formula D H S = |HS-16 | . Thus, D H S = 0 i f H S = 16 (i.e., no preference) and D H S = 8 i f H S = 24. The scores from the three assessments were added. Thus, a total H S (range = 24-72) and a total D H S (range = 0-48) were generated. A child was classified as right-handed i f his or her total H S was lower than 48 (no chi ld obtained a value o f 48) and as left-handed i f his or her total H S was greater than 48.
