Verbal-performance IQ discrepancies on the WAIS-R: An examination of the old-age standardization sample.

Compared base rate information on verbal IQ (VIQ) and performance IQ (PIQ) discrepancies for the old-age standardization sample of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) and 130 normal volunteers (aged 75+ yrs). VIQ–PIQ difference was 0.13 and was similar to the original WAIS—R standardization. Inspection of frequency distributions revealed that 38.5% of the Ss had VIQ–PIQ discrepancies greater than or equal to 9 points and 32.3% had differences greater than or equal to 12 points. The variables of gender, age, and race did not influence VIQ–PIQ differences. However, trends for educational attainment and level of full scale IQ did emerge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Estimation of WAIS—R premorbid intelligence: Current ability and demographic data used in a best-performance fashion.

The validity of a technique for estimating premorbid intellectual functioning based on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R; D. Wechsler, 1981) subtest performance and demographic information used in a best-performance fashion was investigated. Premorbid IQ scores were predicted using the highest score from (a) all 11 R. D. Vanderploeg and J. A. Schinka (see record 1996-13380-001) regression equations (BEST-11) and (b) the 3 most robust regression equations (BEST-3). These results were compared with premorbid estimates based solely on demographic information. In the WAIS—R standardization sample the BEST methods were more highly correlated with actual WAIS—R IQ than were A. Barona et al (see record 1985-04035-001) estimates. The BEST-11 and BEST-3 approaches resulted in overestimates of about 9 points and 5 points, respectively. In matched samples of neurologic patients and normal controls, Pearson correlations between actual and estimated IQ scores were significantly higher for the BEST-3 than the Barona et al method. The BEST-3 method also was superior at predicting group membership (normal vs brain-damaged). These studies support the use of the BEST-3 approach to premorbid estimation of cognitive abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Utility of WAIS–R seven-subtest short form as applied to the standardization sample.

Summary scores from the full Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS–R; D. Wechsler, 1981) and the 7-subtest abbreviated form of the WAIS–R were examined across age and education levels in the standardization sample. Full scale IQ (FSIQ) scores demonstrated the highest comparability between forms, followed by verbal IQ (VIQ) and then performance IQ (PIQ) scores. In comparison with FSIQ and VIQ, correlations between the test versions were consistently lower for PIQ. Lower reliability was found among education groups and tests that included subtests that demonstrated greater variability. Age grouping did not impact the alternative forms reliability. The findings support the use of the 7-subtest short form of the WAIS–R primarily for VIQ and FSIQ summary scores with the additional caution that results from abbreviated scores result in reduced reliability and a larger standard error of measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal study of blood pressure in relation to performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

A growth curve analysis was used to examine estimated longitudinal decline (over 19 years) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS; D. Wechsler, 1955) in relation to arterial hypertension and blood pressure (BP) for 55 men and 85 women (40 to 70 years old) who were free from overt major coexisting diseases. BP was associated with longitudinal decline for Visualization-Performance (VP) ability and Speed. Hypertension was a weaker predictor of VP and was unrelated to Speed. Age effects on VP were overestimated when averaged BP level, particularly systolic BP, was not controlled statistically. It was concluded that initial BP level and hypertension predict age-related longitudinal decline in specific major abilities assessed by the WAIS but that BP averaged over examinations is a stronger predictor.     

Cautions in interpretation of comparisons between the WAIS—R and the Wechsler Memory Scale.

Investigated the relation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) to the Wechsler Memory Scale Memory Quotient (MQ) when the WAIS—R rather than the WAIS is used, noting that G. P. Prigatano (1978) found that a MQ at least 12 points below the WAIS FSIQ may be an indication of memory impairment. 120 psychiatric inpatients (mean age 39.95 yrs) completed the MQ and either the WAIS or WAIS—R. Mean WAIS—R FSIQ and MQ were not equivalent, and a 12-point discrepancy between FSIQ and MQ occurred less often with the WAIS—R than with the WAIS. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of the WAIS and the WAIS—R for ages 61–91 years.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) were administered in a counterbalanced design to 72 subjects between the ages of 61 and 91 years, to determine their comparability by testing the equality of means and variances based on the scaled scores and IQs. Results indicated that the 2 scales were not equivalent (either with respect to subtest scaled scores or IQs) because they did not satisfy one or more of the criteria. Mean differences between tests showed the WAIS Verbal, Performance, and Full-Scale IQs to be higher than the corresponding WAIS—R estimates by 12, 13, and 13 points, respectively. Probable causes of these differences and their implications for clinical assessment are indicated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term stability and intercorrelations of cognitive abilities in older persons.

This project studied the intercorrelations and long-term stabilities of standard Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R), Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS—R), and Auditory–Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) summary indexes. It also reports similar data on the recently published Mayo Cognitive Factor Scales (MCFS), which are derivative indexes for the combined administrations of these 3 tests. These analyses challenge 2 assumptions that most psychologists make when interpreting adult cognitive tests: (a) that for cognitively normal people, performance in one cognitive domain correlates well with and predicts functioning in other cognitive domains, and (b) that in the absence of pathology, cognition is stable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Canadian versions of the information subtests of the Wechsler tests of intelligence.

Contends that the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and WAIS—R all contain an Information subtest that can be troublesome for Canadian test takers because of items with distinct American-biased content. Research from a variety of studies involving Canadianized versions of the Information subtest is reviewed, and on the basis of findings, suitable substitution items are recommended for Canadian test takers. It is argued that until a suitable normative study is done on Canadianized versions, the recommended items be adopted as standards, since a substantial gain in face validity is achieved. (French abstract) (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aging and everyday memory: A cross-cultural study.

Performance on computer-simulated, everyday memory tasks was found to deteriorate with age in 434 Belgian (aged 14–88 yrs) and 434 American Ss matched on gender and age. This age-related memory decline was reasonably consistent across samples. Difficulties in cross-cultural research and the advantages of ecologically valid measurement instruments are discussed. Instruments included a grocery list selective reminding test, the Wechsler Memory Scale, the Benton Visual Retention Test, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive functioning under moderate and low dosage methadone maintenance

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was administered to two groups of patients in the Santa Clara County Methadone Maintenance Program who were receiving low and moderate daily stabilized dosages of methadone hydrochloride. In the two separate statistical analyses performed, there were no significant differences found between subtest scores or verbal, performance, and full-scale scores of the groups measured. These results, combined with observations regarding the similarities of WAIS profiles of the two groups, indicate that cognitive functioning as measured by the WAIS was not differentially affected by the two dosages.     

Correlates of memory decline: A 4-year longitudinal study of older adults with memory complaints.

Change in memory performance and its correspondence to change in speed of performance and self-reported memory functioning were investigated longitudinally in 30 older adults with memory complaints. Ss were assessed by self-report questionnaires and cognitive tests 3 times, at near 2-yr intervals. A significant decline in word-recall scores was found, which was accompanied at the group level by significant self-reported decline in everyday memory functioning and nonsignificant decline in Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Digit Symbol scores (α?=?.05). The oldest Ss showed the most substantial declines in memory performance. At the individual level, however, memory change did not significantly correlate with either change in self-reports or change in Digit Symbol scores. Although these results do not support a cognitive slowing model of decline at the intraindividual level, they do have implications for intervention of age-related memory decline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the WAIS and the WAIS—R in the upper ranges of IQ.

35 medical students were administered 1 of 2 combination forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the WAIS—Revised (WAIS—R) in a single session, with the WAIS and WAIS—R components presented in a counterbalanced order using a procedure that avoided the repetition of identical items. The WAIS IQ scores were higher than were the WAIS—R IQ scores. The higher the WAIS Full Scale IQ, the smaller the Full Scale IQ difference between the 2 tests. Unexpectedly, the Verbal minus Performance discrepancy was greater on the WAIS—R than on the WAIS. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intersubtest scatter on the mainland Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Intersubtest scatter on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised for China (WAIS—RC) was evaluated and compared with that of the WAIS—R standardization sample. Range of scatter averaged 5.1, 4.8, and 6.7 scaled score points on Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale, respectively. Age and gender were not associated with scatter range. These findings are similar to those reported for the WAIS—R standardization sample. Conversely, differences on the WAIS—R and WAIS—RC emerged when years of education and level of intelligence were considered. On the WAIS—R, the scatter range increased as education and intelligence level increased; for the WAIS—RC, scatter range decreased as education and intelligence level increased. Cultural differences in value systems, educational approaches, and educational opportunities may explain these findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity and usefulness of WAIS—R, WISC—R, and WPPSI short forms: A critical review.

Reviews the short-form studies that have been conducted on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). Results show that none of the abbreviated forms were considered to be valid as a short-form IQ measure but that they could be useful as screening instruments. It is concluded that when developing a screening instrument, the more items that are used and the more widely the items are distributed among the subtests, the more effective the screening instrument will generally be. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rising verbal intelligence scores: Implications for research and clinical practice.

Evidence suggests that scores on various intelligence tests have been rising at a fast rate. To find out whether performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Vocabulary subtest has also been rising, the authors searched major psychology journals for investigations involving healthy younger and older adult participants and collected the reported WAIS Vocabulary scores. The meta-analysis shows that WAIS Vocabulary scores have been rising at the rate of 0.117/year (corresponding to 1.52 IQ points/decade) for younger adults and 0.367/year (corresponding to 4.79 IQ points/decade) for older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender IQ differences among psychiatric patients.

Provides evidence against the hypothesis that adult male psychiatric patients are more intelligent than their female peers. 1,187 patients were administered either the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scales, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R), or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised. Analyses revealed no significant sex differences except on the WISC—R. Explanations that have been suggested to account for previous observations of discrepant IQ test performance are discussed, and the possibility of regional or institutional biases is noted. (French abstract) (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WISC—R and WAIS—R odd- and even-item short forms: Criterion validity in three patient samples.

Examined the validity of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) odd-item and even-item short forms in 123 child and adolescent outpatients (82 males, 41 females), and rescored and reanalyzed data from studies involving 21 male and 23 female adult clinical outpatients (C. Watkins et al; see record 1988-18935-001), and 54 male medical inpatients (C. Watkins et al; see record 1987-20807-001). The method described by J. Edinger et al (see record 1986-18942-001) and two other odd- and even-item methods were not consistently valid for any of the samples; odd- and even-item short-form strategy may not be effective across populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparability of the WAIS and the WAIS—R: A consideration of level of neuropsychological impairment.

Subjects of varying levels of neuropsychological impairment who were administered the revised version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) were found to obtain significantly lower Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs than a comparable group of subjects who were administered the original version (WAIS). Significant main effects for level of impairment were found for all IQ measures irrespective of the Wechsler scale administered. No significant interactions of Scale?×?Level of Impairment were found for any IQ measure. The results provide the first empirical support for neuropsychologists' use of a standard expected difference between WAIS and WAIS-R IQ scores as a baseline for assessing changes in intellectual functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual change after epilepsy surgery: Practice effects and base-rate information.

To evaluate the role of practice and to establish statistically meaningful methods for assessing cognitive outcome after epilepsy surgery, test–retest scores for 47 left (LTL) and 49 right (RTL) temporal lobectomy patients on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) and Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS—R) were compared with the scores of 40 epilepsy patients who had not received lobectomies (SZCs). Reliable change indexes were calculated to control for measurement error, and base-rate tables for individual change were constructed for each variable before and after adjustment for observed practice effects. More frequent positive Full Scale IQ changes were noted among LTL than among RTL patients following surgery, whereas negative changes on the WMS-R General Memory and Verbal Memory Indexes were more common among the LTL patients than among either the RTL or SZC groups. When practice effects were controlled, the RTL patients also exceeded base-rate expectations for negative outcomes on the Verbal Memory Index. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frequency of WISC–III and WAIS–R pairwise subtest differences.

Despite their psychometric shortcomings, pairwise Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WlSC-III; D. Wechsler, 1991) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS–R; D. Wechsler, 1981) subtest scaled score comparisons can be important in neuropsychological evaluations (M. D. Lezak, 1995), an endeavor in which hypotheses from pairwise comparisons can be tested with independent neuropsychological instruments. The authors used WISC–III and WAIS–R standardization sample data to derive frequency tables for all pairwise subtest comparisons. The authors present tables of the difference values necessary to be equal to or less than the 1st, 5th, and 15th percentiles for all pairwise difference scores; discuss caveats for their use; and provide clinical examples for their application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)