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)     

Sex differences in verbal IQ—Performance IQ discrepancies among patients with schizophrenia and normal volunteers.

Substantial verbal IQ (VIQ)–performance IQ (PIQ) discrepancies may reflect brain dysfunction. The authors examined 159 patients with schizophrenia ( 115 men and 44 women) or schizoaffective disorder (25 men and 19 women) and 79 normal participants (33 men and 46 women), calculated mean VIQ–PIQ discrepancy scores by sex and diagnosis, and identified persons with large VIQ–PIQ discrepancies (15-point difference in either direction). Schizophrenic/schizoaffective men had a larger mean VIQ–PIQ discrepancy than did other groups. The proportion of all patients with either VIQ?>?PIQ or PIQ?>?VIQ ( 17.8%) was not significantly different from that of normal participants (22.8%). However, significantly more men than women with schizophrenia exhibited a VIQ–PIQ pattern (20% vs. 3.2%). No unusual discrepancy patterns were noted among normal participants. Results were interpreted in light of theories of hemisphere dysfunction in schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concurrent validity of a WAIS—R seven-subtest short form in patients with brain impairment.

The concurrent validity of a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS-R) seven-subtest short form was examined in 138 patients with closed-head injuries and 49 patients with presumed dementia. In patients with closed-head injuries, the average short form IQ score was within 1 point of the actual Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ (VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ) scores. The validity coefficients for these patients ranged from .90 to .95. In patients with presumed dementia, the short form underestimated the average VIQ by nearly 5 points and the average FSIQ by 3.5 points. However, the validity coefficients for these patients were uniformly high (.91 to .95). Examination of the frequency distributions revealed that there was a percentage of patients whose short form IQs and actual IQs were highly discrepant. Research designed to determine the variables that reduce the accuracy of the short form in clinical populations is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

Test-retest stability of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised in the assessment of head-injured patients.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised protocols from 48 male and 12 female head-injured patients (mean age?=?27.02) with a mean test–retest interval of 8.48 months were analyzed to determine test–retest stability. Stability coefficients were .91, .84, and .92 for Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ), Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ), and Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), respectively. On retest, mean improvement was 4.08, 8.02, and 5.92 points for VIQ, PIQ, and FISC, respectively. Improvements were positively correlated with years of education and tended to correlate negatively with the number of months postinjury. Subscale stability coefficients ranged from .92 for Information to .61 for Digit Span. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sleep spindles and learning potential.

The number of sleep spindles remains relatively stable within individuals from night to night. However, there is little explanation for the large interindividual differences in spindles. The authors investigated the relationship between spindles and intelligence quotient (IQ) in 3 separate studies. The number of spindles and sigma power were positively correlated with performance IQ (PIQ), but not verbal IQ (VIQ). The perceptual/analytical skills measured by the PIQ Picture Completion subscale accounted for most of the interindividual differences in spindles. Furthermore, there was a relationship between the rapid eye movements (REMs) of REM sleep and VIQ in individuals with higher IQ scores. A similar pattern was observed between spindles and PIQ. It was hypothesized that high-IQ individuals have more spindles that can support more complex cortical networks underlying perceptual/analytical abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal versus performance IQs for gifted African-American, Caucasian, Filipino, and Hispanic children.

Verbal and performance IQ (VIQ–PIQ) discrepancies were evaluated in 4,546 gifted African-American, Caucasian, Filipino, and Hispanic children in Grades 1–9. Results, which were cross-validated on an independent sample, showed that the VIQ–PIQ pattern depended on ethnic background, the interaction of ethnicity and risk, and the size of the individual VIQ–PIQ discrepancy. Gifted African-American and Caucasian children showed significantly higher VIQs than PIQs; there were no significant VIQ–PIQ differences in the Filipino or Hispanic groups. Language risk was associated with a low VIQ in African-American children. Among large VIQ–PIQ discrepancies, PIQs were higher than VIQs for Filipino children; the other 3 groups showed the reverse pattern. Implications of the results and the importance of considering ethnic background and risk as well as IQ level in evaluating test indices are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A reanalysis of gender differences in IQ scores following unilateral brain lesions.

Meta-analyses of gender differences in the consequences of unilateral brain lesions have reported a positive correlation between the percentage of men in studies and the magnitude of the difference between Verbal (V) and Performance (P) IQ. Such findings are limited by both the indirectness of the methodology and the focus on V–P differences rather than on the separate effects of brain lesions on VIQ and PIQ. A repeated-measures analysis was conducted of studies that reported separate VIQ and PIQ means for men and women with unilateral lesions. Women showed lower IQ scores following lesions to the hemisphere thought to be nondominant for each function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal IQ–performance IQ discrepancies on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in patients with unilateral or bilateral cerebral dysfunction.

Administered the WAIS-R to 89 patients (mean age 42 yrs) with neurodiagnostically confirmed unilateral or bilateral cerebral disease. Similar to findings with previous editions of these tests, Ss with left-hemisphere disease obtained significantly lower Verbal IQ (VIQ) than Performance IQ (PIQ), and Ss with right or bilateral disease obtained lower PIQ than VIQ. It is cautioned that these VIQ–PIQ discrepancies in isolation are ineffective indexes of cerebral dysfunction and that patterns of performance must be viewed in the context of a complete neuropsychological examination and relevant medical and educational historical data. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validation of the Child Premorbid Intelligence Estimate method to predict premorbid Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition Full Scale IQ among children with brain injury.

Determination of neuropsychological impairment involves contrasting obtained performances with a comparison standard, which is often an estimate of premorbid IQ. M. R. Schoenberg, R. T. Lange, T. A. Brickell, and D. H. Saklofske (2007) proposed the Child Premorbid Intelligence Estimate (CPIE) to predict premorbid Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4th Edition (WISC-IV; Wechsler, 2003). The CPIE includes 12 algorithms to predict FSIQ, 1 using demographic variables and 11 algorithms combining WISC-IV subtest raw scores with demographic variables. The CPIE was applied to a sample of children with acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI sample; n = 40) and a healthy demographically matched sample (n = 40). Paired-samples t tests found estimated premorbid FSIQ differed from obtained FSIQ when applied to the TBI sample (ps ≤ .01). When applied to healthy peers, estimated and obtained FSIQ did not differ (ps > .02). The demographic only algorithm performed well at a group level, but estimates were restricted in range. Algorithms combining single subtest scores with demographics performed adequately. Results support the clinical application of the CPIE algorithms. However, limitations to estimating individual premorbid ability, including statistical and developmental factors, must be considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychosocial functioning of learning-disabled children: Relations between WISC Verbal IQ Performance IQ discrepancies and personality subtypes.

A total of 132 children with learning disabilities (LD) between the ages of 6 and 12 years were divided equally into 3 groups on the basis of the difference between Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) VIQ-PIQ scores (viz., VIQ?>?PIQ, VIQ?=?PIQ, and VIQ??PIQ group showed pathological evaluations on some PIC scales. Group average linkage cluster analysis using 10 PIC scales revealed 6 psychosocial subtypes. Within these subtypes, children with VIQ?>?PIQ were found at lower than expected frequencies in normal and mildly disturbed subtypes, but at higher than expected frequencies in seriously disturbed subtypes. These results support the notion that patterns of cognitive performance are related to patterns of psychosocial functioning in children with LD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WISC performance in acting-out and delinquent children with and without EEG abnormality.

To evaluate the relationship between EEG status and intelligence test performance, the WISC scores of 139 nondefective, acting-out and delinquent children referred for psychiatric evaluation were examined. The distribution of Verbal IQ-Performance IQ (VIQ-PIQ) discrepancies was compared with that reported for the WISC standardization population. Girls did not differ significantly from the standardization population, but boys showed a significantly larger proportion with PIQ > VIQ than in the standardization population. Neither boys nor girls showed significant differences in scores between groups with abnormal EEGs and those with normal and borderline EEGs. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An abbreviated form of the WISC for use with emotionally disturbed children.

Many clinicians faced with the demands of research and limited clinic time have employed a short form of the standard intelligence tests. These abbreviated versions typically recommend administering 3-5 subtests in full and completely omitting the rest. The present study explored the possibilities of developing an abbreviated form of the WISC for use with emotionally disturbed children which would permit the usual scatter analysis performed with the full scale and also afford a genuine saving in time. The WISC records of 40 females and 107 males ranging in age from 6.0-15.11 and in Full Scale IQ from 70-148 were rescored according to an abbreviated schedule. Correlations between this abbreviated form and the full administration ranged from .76 on Picture Completion to .94 for Block Design. The correlations for the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs were .96, .93, and .97, respectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Potential of and problems with new measures of psychometric intelligence after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Examination of the concurrent and criterion validities of the General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS–III) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study Design: Correlational methods and multivariate analyses of variance. Setting: Regional rehabilitation center. Participants: Prospective series of consecutive rehabilitation referrals, including 60 adults with TBI and no confounding premorbid histories. Main Outcome Measures: GAMA and WAIS–III IQ and factor index scores were obtained within 1 year after injury and were compared with each other and with measures of injury severity. Results: GAMA and WAIS–III summary IQ scores demonstrated substantial covariance (supporting concurrent validity), but neither was sufficiently sensitive to injury severity. The WAIS–III Processing Speed (PS) index was the only measure that clearly demonstrated criterion validity. Conclusions: GAMA and WAIS–III summary IQ scores measure similar abilities but may not be sensitive to degree of injury severity in individuals with TBI. In contrast, the WAIS–III PS index appears to have promise in the evaluation of sequelae of TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A prose recall test using stories in American sign language.

Objective: To develop a test of American Sign Language (ASL) prose recall, modeled after the Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale. Method: Two ASL stories were developed and presented to participants, whose verbatim recall in immediate and delayed conditions was videotaped. Three ASL-fluent raters scored the responses. Recall scores were correlated with performance IQ (PIQ) and Signed Paired Associate Test (SPAT) results. Participants: 41 ASL-fluent deaf adults. Outcome Measures: ASL Stories Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test PIQ, SPAT. Results: Mean recall scores for the 2 stories were 58% and 66% (immediate condition, a significant difference) and 63% and 68% (delayed condition, also a significant difference), respectively. Interrater reliability coefficients ranged from .77 to .94. Immediate and delayed recall scores for the 1st story correlated with PIQ. Combined ASL story recall scores correlated with more challenging elements of the SPAT. Conclusions: The 1st ASL story was more difficult than the 2nd. Reliability scores, correlations with PIQ and SPAT performance, and other test properties that are comparable to the Logical Memory subtest suggest the ASL Stories Test shows promise as a verbal memory research and clinical evaluation tool with deaf individuals who use ASL. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internal and external validity of seven Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition short forms in a sample of psychiatric inpatients.

This study examined the validity of 7 short forms of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WISC—III; Wechsler, 1991) in a heterogeneous sample of 212 child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Short-form scores were transformed into deviation IQs (DIQ) through linear scaling techniques and then compared to (a) WISC—III Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores through paired-sample t tests and Pearson correlations to examine internal validity and (b) standardized academic achievement scores through Pearson correlations to examine external validity. A 2 (race)?×?2 (gender)?×?2 (age) multivariate analysis of variance, with FSIQ minus DIQ scores as dependent variables, revealed that several short forms yield different FSIQ estimates between race, gender, and age groups. Two short forms are recommended for use with child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Incremental efficacy of WISC–III factor scores in predicting achievement: What do they tell us?

Four factors underlie the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children—Third Edition (WISC–III; D. Wechsler, 1991). Scores from these factors possess greater reliability than individual subtest scores, and some argue that factor scores relate to important phenomena of educational and clinical interest, such as academic achievement and classification status. However, the predictive efficacy of factor scores from the WISC–III relative to the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) has not been clearly established. This study examined the incremental validity of factor scores from the WISC–III in predicting achievement on the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT; Psychological Corporation, 1992). Two groups were evaluated: a nationally representative nonreferred sample (n?=?283), and a sample of children referred for evaluation (n?=?636). Results indicate that while the factors provide a statistically significant increment, the size of this improvement is generally too small to be of clinical significance for either group. In terms of parsimony and efficiency, the FSIQ is the best predictor of different achievement criteria as measured by the WIAT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of education and IQ in the WAIS—R standardization sample.

Analyzed years of schooling as compared to WAIS—R scores in each of the 1,880 Ss used to standardize the test. Results show a progressive increase in mean Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) from individuals who completed 8 or fewer years of education (FSIQ?=?86.4) to individuals who completed 9–21 yrs (FSIQ?=?96.4), 12 yrs (FSIQ?=?100.1), 13–25 yrs (FSIQ?=?107.4) and 16 or more years of education (FSIQ?=?115.3). In a further analysis, 600 16–24 yr old Ss included in the sample were excluded because they had not yet completed their education. Results show that the correlation between education and FSIQ was .63 for 500 24–44 yr old Ss and .62 for 730 45–74 yr old Ss. It is suggested that when other information is available, years of schooling may be used in clinical neuropsychological practice as a rough estimate of premorbid WAIS—R IQ. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability of intelligence and intellectual predictors in older persons.

The l-year temporal stability of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS-R) Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and several predictors of intelligence, including the A. Barona and R. Chastain (see record 1987-09155-001) demographic predictor formula, the New Adult Reading Test—Revised [(NART-R) J. Blair & O. Spreen; see record 77:60], and the Intellectual Correlates Scale [(ICS) R. Schlottmann & D. Johnsen; see record 79:11341] were investigated in 51 normal older persons. Reliability of WAIS-R FSIQs and Barona, NART-R, and ICS estimates of FSIQ fell at .90, .99, .92, and .58, respectively (all ps r = .61, .73, and .48, respectively) and 2nd observations (r = .63, .73, and .41, respectively). A simple average of Barona and NART-R estimates derived from the 2nd observation correlated at .75 with WAIS-R FSIQs obtained 1 year earlier. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a General Ability Index for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Third Edition.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III; D. Wechsler, 1997) permits the calculation of both traditional IQ and index scores. However, if only the subtests constituting the index scores are administered, especially those yielding the Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization Indexes, there is no equivalent measure of Full Scale IQ. Following the procedure for calculating a General Ability Index (GAI; A. Prifitera, L. G. Weiss, & D. H. Saklofske, 1998) for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - IIIrd Edition (WISC--III) (D. Wechsler, 1991), GAI normative tables for the WAIS-III standardization sample are reported here. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)