Comparison of age-extended norms for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Recent studies by R. J. Ivnik et al (see record 1993-04116-001), J. F. Malec et al (see record 1993-04120-001), and J. J. Ryan et al (see record 1991-08835-001) have provided age-extended norms for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R). The current study compared IQ scores based on these newer age-extended norms in 216 elderly Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Results showed that when the norms from Ryan et al were used, IQ scores were consistently the same as or higher than when WAIS—R manual norms were used. When the norms provided by Ivnik et al and Malec et al were used, IQ scores tended to be lower than WAIS—R manual norms for younger patients with more intellectual impairment. Results illustrate the importance of reporting the normative sample upon which IQ test scores for older adults are based and provide guidelines for selecting which set of age-extended WAIS—R norms to use with cognitively impaired elderly Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies on the WISC-R: One more time.

The formula that R. J. Piotrowski (see record 1979-12366-001) used to determine the abnormality of Verbal–Performance IQ discrepancies on the WISC-R gave results that differed greatly from the actual values reported by A. S. Kaufman (see record 1977-07179-001). Since the assumption on which the formula is based, bivariate normality, is met by the WISC-R standardization data, the disparity is puzzling. It is suggested that Piotrowski erred in applying the formula not to IQs but to sums of scaled scores. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A question as to the validity of the Verbal Scale IQ as a WAIS short form.

R. W. Wildman and R. W. Wildman, Jr.'s (see record 1977-24667-001) contention as to the validity of the Verbal Scale IQ as a WAIS short form is shown to be based on an inappropriate analysis of their data. Upon reanalysis, the claim for validity is unsupported on the basis of original criteria. Results are presented that also fail to support the validity of the Verbal IQ as a short form measure. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the WAIS and WAIS—R: Different results for different IQ groups.

Using a procedure that eliminated repetition of identical items, thus avoiding order effects, we administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the WAIS—Revised to 108 subjects. All correlations between the two tests were significant and similar to those reported in the WAIS—R manual. For the group as a whole, verbal, performance, and full scale IQ scores on the WAIS—R were significantly lower than their respective WAIS scores; however, this difference was not consistent across IQ levels. Subjects of both average and borderline intelligence had WAIS IQ scores significantly above their WAIS—R scores. For the mildly retarded subjects, the performance IQs were equal for the WAIS and WAIS—R, whereas the WAIS—R verbal and full scale IQ scores were higher than the corresponding WAIS IQ scores. However, these score differences were small (1 point) and of little practical value. The differences of moderately retarded subjects, on the other hand, were large and in the reverse direction: the WAIS—R IQ scores were significantly higher than the WAIS IQ scores. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abnormality of the difference and the WISC-R: Comment on Silverstein.

Discusses reactions by C. R. Reynolds (see record 1979-27697-001) and A. B. Silverstein (see PA, Vol 66:00000) to an earlier article by the present author (see record 1979-12366-001) that examined the size of abnormal differences between WISC-R subtest scaled scores and Verbal–Performance IQ scores. An error is acknowledged in the presentation of the Verbal–Performance IQ differences, and the validity of the abnormality of the difference statistic for examining subtest scaled scores is discussed. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Composite reliability and standard errors of measurement for a seven-subtest short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised.

The composite reliability and standard errors of measurement were computed for prorated Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores derived from a 7-subtest short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) proposed by L. C. Ward (see record 1991-00137-001). The results indicate that this short form provides IQ scores that are as reliable as the complete WAIS—R. Together with previous findings that this short form has better concurrent validity than other short forms, the present findings justify substituting it for the complete WAIS—R in most clinical and research applications. The advantages of and objections to using short forms of the WAIS—R are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistics can mislead.

Discusses serious statistical problems in S. Scarr and R. A. Weinberg's (see record 1977-07996-001) article on 130 Black children adopted by Whites, in which the authors attempted to ascertain the relative contributions of 10 social and 2 biological variables to IQ variance. Corrected statistical analyses show opposing trends for the contributions of nurture and nature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

IQ, race, and adoption.

Argues that the genetic and social variables were so confounded in S. Scarr and R. A. Weinberg's (see record 1977-07996-001) article on Black children adopted by White families that the results are consistent with virtually any theory of race differences in IQ. It is difficult to see any scientific or applied value in transracial adoption studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Efficacy of the Satz-Mogel short form WAIS—R for tumor patients with lateralized lesions.

The ability of the P. Satz and S. Mogel (1962) short form Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) to provide equivalent information about IQ scores and age-corrected scale scores was examined as a function of side of lesion for 34 left hemisphere damaged (LHD) and 29 right hemisphere damaged (RHD) patients having primary brain tumors. Correlations between the 2 forms were significant for all WAIS—R scores with the exception of the Object Assembly subtest for RHD patients. The short form significantly overestimated Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, Full Scale IQ, Similarities, and Picture Arrangement subtest scores. It significantly underestimated Object Assembly subtest scores. A marked percentage of patients showed 1 or more category changes for most WAIS—R scores and 2 or more category changes for some of these scores. The distribution of discrepancies between scores and the number of category changes did not differ significantly for LHD and RHD patients. (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)     

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)     

IQ-memory discrepancies in normal and clinical samples.

The potential utility of IQ—Memory Index discrepancy scores derived from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) and the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS—R; D. Wechsler, 1987) was examined in a clinical sample, whose scores were then compared to those of subjects from the WMS—R standardization sample. The clinical sample included patients with diagnoses associated with memory deficits. Discrepancy scores between Full-Scale IQ and the Delayed Memory Index differentiated the groups, but material-specific discrepancies between IQ scores and immediate recall memory scores did not. The largest mean discrepancy and the greatest prevalence of scores beyond a criterion score of 15 were found in patients with presumed Alzheimer's disease. Issues related to limitations in the application of such discrepancy scores are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The RIP in social scientific reporting.

Calls for editorial criteria for scientific reporting, based on the reading of S. Scarr and R. Weinberg's (see record 1977-07996-001) article on IQ test performances of Black children. The article exemplifies reasonable scientific procedure followed by unreasonable social commentary that carries the illusion of scientific authority. The reasonable inferential process (RIP) should ensure that social scientists keep discussions related to data and present discussions that will not mislead the reader. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A positive interpretation of apparent "cumulative deficit."

Two recent studies by A. R. Jensen (1974, 1977) suggest that a cumulative deficit in IQ occurs in socioeconomically deprived Black children. The child's IQ is thought to deteriorate progressively with age. The 2 studies, however, are cross-sectional in design. They might thus be interpreted as indicating that social and educational changes have facilitated IQ development in recently born Black children. There are data which demonstrate that young Black children have higher IQs than their older siblings, holding constant the age at testing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WAIS—R abbreviated forms in the elderly: A comparison of the Satz-Mogel with a seven-subtest short form.

The Satz-Mogel abbreviation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) was compared with a 7-subtest short form (L. C. Ward, see record 1991-00137-001) in samples of normal and neurologically impaired elderly persons 75 yrs and older. The normals were 130 Ss from the old-age WAIS—R standardization sample, and the brain-damaged group consisted of 40 men with medically diagnosed brain dysfunction (average age 79.5 yrs). The short forms were highly similar in administration times, correlations with the WAIS—R IQs, estimation of the average IQ scores, and in classification of intelligence for both the normal and neurologically impaired Ss. Finally, both short forms correctly estimated significant Verbal IQ–Performance IQ discrepancies about 75% of the time. (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)     

Adjusting IQ scores for the Flynn effect: Consistent with the standard of practice?

Should psychologists adjust obtained IQ scores to accommodate the Flynn effect (J. R. Flynn, 1985)? The authors surveyed directors of doctoral training programs approved by the American Psychological Association and board-certified school psychologists and completed a systematic review of IQ test manuals, contemporary textbooks on IQ testing, federally regulated IQ testing protocols, and various sources of legal and ethical guidance. They confirmed in each instance that such adjustments to IQ scores do not comport with prevailing standards of psychological practice. Results of IQ testing may be applied to a broad range of psycholegal issues, many of which cannot be anticipated. Psychologists assist examinees, courts, and other 3rd parties most effectively by administering and interpreting IQ tests in their intended fashion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unilateral lesions and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised: No sex differences.

Tested sex differences previously reported in WAIS—R scores (Verbal IQ vs Performance IQ discrepancies) in male patients with unilateral lesions by administering the WAIS—R to 31 Ss (16 males [mean age 42.6 yrs] and 15 females [mean age 38.4 yrs]) with right-hemisphere lesions and to 32 Ss (17 males [mean age 32 yrs] and 15 females [mean age 40.7 yrs]) with left hemisphere lesions. Results show that both males and females had expected discrepancies between Verbal IQ and Performance IQ. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are IQ scores valid for children who are poor readers?

Remedial services for children with reading problems are often allocated according to discrepancies between reading and IQ scores. Results of some recent research suggest, however, that IQ scores of poor readers do not covary with their levels of functioning in other cognitive domains. This study evaluated whether the external validity of IQ scores (from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised [WAIS—R]) was moderated by reading levels within 2 separate samples of a total of 382 referred children (aged 7–16 yrs). It was found that IQ scores had expected correlations with external measures of verbal, visual-spatial, short-term memory, and arithmetic ability, and that these relations were invariant across levels of reading skill. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery—Children's Revision: Concurrent validity with three learning disability subtypes.

Concurrent validity of the Luria-Nebraska Psychological Battery—Children's Revision (LNNB—C) was studied in 82 learning disabled children who were divided into three groups according to Verbal and Performance IQ differences on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R). The three groups, comparable in age and on WISC—R Full-Scale IQ scores, were designated auditory-linguistic (Verbal IQ?