The Draw-a-Person test as a valid measure of children's cognitive development / Estudo de validade do DFH como medida de desenvolvimento cognitivo infantil

Draw-a-Person Test (DAP) is widely used to assess cognitive development, although, the recognition of the validity of this instrument is not complete. In Brazil, the Wechsler system of evaluation of DAP has already been approved by the Federal Psychology Board. However, considering the need to periodically re-evaluate an instrument, this study attempted to test both convergent and concurrent validity of the DAP - Cognitive System according to Wechsler. Thus, Raven's Progressive Matrices, a nationally and internationally validated instrument, was used to analyze convergent validity and a school performance scale was used to analyze concurrent validity. Ninety children from 6 to 12 years old (M=8,99 and SD=1,79), 37 girls and 53 boys, from public schools (kindergarten to 6th grade), who did not engage in psychological treatment and did not have learning disabilities participated in this study. Results showed moderate positive correlations among the three instruments, confirming that DAP scored via Wechsler' system is a valid measure of cognitive development. Suggestions are made in the sense of including DAP in assessment batteries or using it as a brief assessment.