Wechsler Intelligence Scales: An Overview

Wechsler Intelligence Scales: An Overview of Their Development and Utilization Discuss your views on intelligence testing generally 'He has an IQ of 160.' 'She has a genius-level IQ.' Intelligence testing has a kind of sacred status in our culture, and the numbers derived from IQ tests often take on a kind of mythical quality: the idea that something as elusive as genius can be numerically defined is attractive.

However, IQ tests are only imperfect instruments: they can be highly useful in flagging children who require extra educational assistance, and to lesser extent students who require additional enrichment. But beyond a general definition of someone who is above or below the grade level or age level of expected cognitive ability, specific IQ test numbers are not very meaningful.

Furthermore, while the difference between a child with an IQ of 80 and an IQ of 100 may be great, it is less certain if the distinction between a child with a 120 IQ and 100 IQ is just as meaningful -- and even less so in terms of the difference between a child with a 120 IQ and a 140 IQ. Explain what IQ scores are Originally, IQ scores were measured as a quotient of the test-taker's estimated mental age and chronological age.

"A 10-year-old child that had the mental age of a 12-year-old was considered to have an above average IQ of 120 [(12/10) x 100]" (What is IQ, 2010, About intelligence). However, as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was created first for adults (although children's versions do exist), Wechsler created a new scale based upon "standardized normal distribution rather than on an age-based quotient, because the latter only worked for children.

Using the newer method, an average IQ of 100 was set as the centre value on a 'bell curve', with a standard deviation of 15 points and each score was 'ranked' by a projection on the normal distribution" (What is IQ, 2010, About intelligence). Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Wechsler's test instruments Intelligence tests have been criticized for over-emphasizing verbal ability.

Wechsler, in response to such criticisms, divided his 60-90 minute test into six verbal section and five nonverbal sections, which were separately as well as globally scored (Encyclopedia of Children's Health, 2010; Encyclopedia of Medicine 2010). Subtests of the Wechsler include information, digit span, vocabulary, arithmetic, comprehension, similarities, picture completion, picture arrangement, block design, object assembly, and digit symbol tests (Encyclopedia of Children's Health, 2010; Encyclopedia of Medicine 2010 ).

Explain the Global Ability Index and when to use it The alternative global score, the General Ability Index (GAI) is calculated when the test-taker "meets certain criteria that involve variability with respect to the cognitive factors of working memory and processing speed" (Cheramie 2008). For example, learning-disabled children often have lower levels of processing speed, thus the GAI is an acceptable scoring alternative to the usual method which does take memory and processing speed into account when norming the results.

Discuss the main uses for the WAIS-IV and WISC-IV All forms of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales are standardized tests, "meaning that as part of the test design, they were administered to a large representative sample of the target population, and norms were determined from the results" (Encyclopedia of Children's Health, 2010). All IQ tests are limited in their ability to describe the individual's full range of ability and should be used in conjunction with other measures.

However, the inclusion of the performance section in the Wechsler scales is especially helpful in assessing the cognitive ability of non-native speakers and children with speech and language disorders. "The test can be of particular value to school psychologists screening for specific learning disabilities because of the number of specific subtests that make up each section" that relate to various types of information processing (Encyclopedia of Children's Health, 2010). Give an explanatory outline of the successive-level interpretation procedure for interpreting WAIS and WISC test.