Midterm: Interpreting the WAIS-IV

Question 1

General Directions for Interpreting

Answer 1

1. Proceed from more comprehensive to less (VCI –> PRI –> WMI –> PSI)
2. FSIQ/GAI&raquo_space;» Individual subtests
3. Consider statistical significance first (is it real; did it meet the threshold, not due to chance or error)
4. Consider clinical significance (is it rare)

Question 2

What is a relative S/W?

Answer 2

statistically significant differences

Question 3

What are normative S/W?

Answer 3

scores (above 115 or below 85)

Question 4

What is clinical significance?

Answer 4

The base rate cutoff of 10% or less; base rate is less than 10%

Question 5

What is statistical significance?

Answer 5

If it is real, if it met the threshold and is not due to error

Question 6

Steps for Interpretation

Answer 6

0. Validity of results
1. Determine best index of overall ability
2. Report overall ability
3. Index scores
4. Subtest scores
5. Summary and conclusions
6. Recommendations

Question 7

Step 0. Validity of results

Answer 7

Consider: client behavior, referral context, testing environment, appropriateness of test and norms
Ask: do any aspects of client’s behavior or the testing situation raises doubts about the results?
Report: cautions or modifications in interpretation

Question 8

Step 1. Determine best index of overall ability

Answer 8

FSIQ vs GAI vs Neither
FSIQ–all four indices
GAI–VCI and PRI (better for impairments in memory and processing speed)
Neither–when large discrepancies between all

Question 9

Step 2. Report overall ability

Answer 9

• report and describe FSIQ
• if FSIQ is not best, explain
• report and describe more appropriate index (indices)
• give: confidence intervals (95%), percentile ranks, descriptive categories (CI better than a single score)

They got a score of 92, this places them in the “Average range”(—A is capitalized) with a confidence interval (CI) which is… they are ranked in the 30th percentage, which means this individual scored equal to or better than 30% of their age peers.

**every time you give a number, give descriptive stats

Question 10

Step 3. Index scores

Answer 10

• present and describe as with overall index
• differences, strengths, weakness (B1)
• use statistical significance and base rates
• relative (within a person) and/or
• normative (relative to population)

Sandwich:
what is it
scores
inter index
**graph**
intra index

Question 11

Step 4. Subtest scores

Answer 11

• interpret subtest scores if relevant
• variability of subtests within an index
• consider: descriptive classifications & strengths/weakness (B.5)

Question 12

Step 5. Summary and conclusions

Answer 12

How does the date fit together? (want story does it tell) 
Generate hypotheses (integrate the WAIS data with observations, history, background, etc)
Give diagnostic impressions

Question 13

Step 6. Recommendations

Answer 13

• clear, specific, and appropriate to conclusions
• more assessment needed?
• tx?
• skills?
• meds?

Question 14

What is a 95% confidence interval?

Answer 14

95% confidence interval (CI) between 88 and 96, indicating that there is a 95% chance that her true score is between the values of 88 and 96

Question 15

What is a percentile?

Answer 15

This score places her in the 30th percentile, meaning 30% of individuals in her demographic age group scored equal to or less than her.

Question 16

What is a base rate?

Answer 16

with a base rate of 13.7%, which indicates that only 13.7% of the population obtained the same discrepancy or greater between these two tests