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National Psychology Exam > WAIS > Flashcards

WAIS Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the purpose of the WAIS-IV?

A

The WAIS-IV is an individually administered intelligence test designed for clients aged 16 years and 90 years 11 months.

The WAIS-IV is comprised of 15 subtests, and 10 core subtests are usually used to calculate a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), as well as four indexes (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed).

The WAIS-IV is used for comprehensive assessment of cognitive functioning, identifying intellectual disability and giftedness, cognitive strengths and weaknesses in neurological conditions, guiding treatment planning and placement, clinical information for academic and neuropsychologicla evaluations, reliable and valid data for research.

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2
Q

What is the General Ability Index?

A
  • The GAI is calculated from the core Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning subtest scaled scores.
  • The GAI is a summary score that is less sensitive than the FSIQ to the influence of working memory and processing speed.
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3
Q

Why would you use a WISC-V instead of the WAIS-IV?

A

If examinees had suspected below average cognitive ability or clinical diagnoses, the WISC-V would be used to ensure that the “floor” is low enough to determine their cognitive functioning.

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4
Q

What does Block Design measure?

A

BD is part of the Perceptual Reasoning Index and measures the ability to analyse and synthesise abstract visual stimuli.

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5
Q

What does Similarities measure?

A

SI is part of the Verbal Comprehension Index and measure verbal concept formation and reasoning.

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6
Q

What does Digit Span measure?

A

DS is part of the Working Memory Index and measures:

  • DSF = rote learning and memory, attention, encoding and auditory processing
  • DSB = working memory, transformation of information, mental manipulation and visuospatial imaging
  • DSS = working memory and mental manipulation
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7
Q

What does Matrix Reasoning measure?

A

MR is part of the Perceptual Reasoning Index and measures fluid intelligence, broad visual intelligence, classification and spatial ability, knowledge of part-whole relationships, simultaneous processing, and perceptual organisation.

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8
Q

What does Vocabulary measure?

A

VC is part of the Verbal Comprehension Index and measures word knowledge, verbal concept formation and crystallised intelligence.

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9
Q

What does Arithmetic measure?

A

AR is part of the Working Memory Index and measures mental manipulation, concentration, attention, ST/LT memory, numerical reasoning and mental alertness.

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10
Q

What does Symbol Search measure?

A

SS is part of the Processing Speed Index and measures processing speed, ST visual memory, visual-motor coordiantion, cognitive flexibility, visual discrimination, psychomotor speed, speed of mental operation, attention and concentration.

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11
Q

What does Visual Puzzles measure?

A

VP is part of the Perceptual Reasoning Index and measures nonverbal reasoning and the ability to analyse and synthesize abstract visual stimuli.

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12
Q

What does Information measure?

A

IN is part of the Verbal Comprehension Index and measures the ability to acquire, retain and retrieve general factural knowledge, it involves crystallised intelligence and long-term memory.

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13
Q

What does Coding measure?

A

CD is part of the Processing Speed Index and measure processing speed, short-term visual memory, learning ability, psychomotor speed, visual perception, visual-motor coordination, visual scanning ability, cognitive flexibility, attention, concentration and motivation.

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14
Q

What subtest/s could be supplemented for the Verbal Comprehension Index?

A

Comprehension: to measure verbal reasoning and conceptualisation, verbal comprehension and expression, using past experience and practical knowledge, crystallised knowledge.

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15
Q

What subtest/s could be supplemented for the Perceptual Reasoning Index?

A

Figure Weights = measuring quantitative and analogical reasoning.

Picture Completion = measuring visual perception and organisation, concentration and visual recognition of essential details of objects.

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16
Q

What subtest/s could be supplemented in to the Working Memory Index?

A

Letter-Number Sequencing = measuring sequential processing, mental manipulation, attention, concentration, memory span, and short term auditory memory.

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17
Q

What subtest/s could be supplemented in the Processing Speed Index?

A

Cancellation = measuring processing speed, visual selective attention, vigilance, perceptual speed, and visual-motor ability.

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18
Q

What does the Verbal Comprehension Index measure?

A
  • Measure verbal concept formation, verbal reasoning, and knowledge acquired from one’s environment
  • Ability to understand, use and think with spoken language
  • Demonstrating the breadth and depth of knowledge acquired from one’s environment
  • Measures retrieval from long-term memory
  • Crystallised intelligence
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19
Q

What does the Perceptual Reasoning Index measure?

A
  • Perceptual and fluid reasoning
  • Spatial processing
  • Visual-motor integration
  • Fluid Intelligence
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20
Q

What does the Working Memory Index measure?

A
  • The capacity to maintain and manipulate visual and verbal information in one’s mind/perform some mental operation and produce a result
  • Sustained concentration
  • Attention to auditory and visual detail
  • Mental control and reasoning
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21
Q

What does the Processing Speed Index measure?

A
  • The ability to quickly and correctly scan, sequence or discriminate simple visual information
  • Short term visual memory, attention, visual coordination
  • The speed of mental processing
  • Motor speed
  • Using visual stimuli and graphomotor skills
22
Q

When is it appropriate to administer and use a supplemental subtest?

A

When core subtests are invalidated:

  • Administration errors
  • Recent exposure to test items
  • Physical limitations
  • Sensory deficits
  • Response sets e.g. “i don’t knows” to every item
23
Q

What are the limits to supplementation?

A
  • Only one substitution of a supplementary test is allowed for each Index Score
  • No more than 2 substitutions are allowed when deriving the FSIQ and GAI
24
Q

What is the FSIQ?

A
  • The most valid measure of overall cognitive ability
  • Working memory and processing speed are vital to comprehensive evaluation of cognitive ability. But the validity of the WMI and/or PSI measures may be compromised in learning or memory disorders and can artifically depress the FSIQ
25
Q

What is a Process Score?

A
  • Process Scores provide more detailed information on cognitive abilities that contribute to subtest performance
  • They ara derived from performance on existing subtests
  • They do not contribute to any composite score and cannot be substituted for any subtest score
  • Examples = BD no time bonus, Longest DSF/DSB/DSS, Longest LN Sequencing
26
Q

When administering the WAIS-IV, what records should the examiner keep note of?

A
  • Queries
  • Prompt needed
  • Repeated item
  • Don’t knows
  • Non responses
27
Q

What would you do if an examinee did not obtain a perfect score on either the first or second item administered?

A

Reversal items would be given e.g. if examinee failed item 4, but got perfect scores on 3 and 2, the subtest would continue from item 5 onwards (and full credit would also be given for item 1 despite it not being administered).

28
Q

What would you do if the examinee obtained a perfect score on item 4, but obtained a score of 0 on item 5?

A

Count item 4 towards the reverse principle, meaning if they obtain a perfect score on item 3 then award credit for item 1 and 2 and proceed to item 6 to continue the subtest.

29
Q

How would you score the following results?:
Item 1-3 = correct
Item 4 = incorrect
Item 5-6 = correct

A

Full points would still be given for item 4, as the examinee got the second starting point item 5 and 6 correct.

30
Q

What is the scoring procedure for the WAIS-IV?

A
  1. Calculate subtest total raw scores
  2. Convert total raw scores to scaled scores based on examinee’s age
  3. Obtain sums of scaled scores for each Index
  4. Obtain sums of all scaled scores for Full Scale score
  5. Convert the Scaled Scores to Composite Scores using the table = derives the VCI, PRI, WMI, PSI, and FSIQ
31
Q

What are Scaled Scores?

A
  • A Scaled Score is the standardised score examinee’s obtained on their subtests
  • They allow comparison to performance of same-age peers
  • They are scaled to a metric with a mean of 10 and SD of 3
  • Summing multiple scaled subtest scores derives a composite score which is scaled to a metric with a mean of 100 and SD of 15
32
Q

What is the score range for average FSIQ?

A

90-109 (and makes up 49.5% of the theoretical normal curve)

33
Q

What are the requirements for giftedness and intellectual disability?

A

2 SDs above or below the mean, respectively:

  • Giftedness = 130+
  • Intellectual disability = 69 and below
34
Q

What conditions may the PSI be relevant for?

A
  • Declines in processing speed are associated with age-related declines in performance
  • ADHD
  • Learning disablities
  • TBI
  • Dementia
35
Q

How would you determine if an Index is unitary?

A

An Index is considered unitary (and therefore able to be interpreted) if the difference between the highest and lowest subtest scaled scores is less than 1.5SD (<5 points).

If the difference is 5+ then the index represents a summary of diverse abilities rather than one unitary construct and is uninterpretable.

36
Q

How would you determine strengths and weakness in the Index profile?

A

Strengths and Weaknesses are only considered for unitary Indexes, and are determined by a difference of 1SD from the mean:

  • If the Index is greater than 115 = the ability measured by the Index is a normative strength
  • If the Index is less than 85 = the ability measured by the Index is a normative weakness
  • If the Index is between 85-115 (inclusive) = the ability measured by the Index is within normal limits
37
Q

When is it appropriate to use the FSIQ as a reliaable and valid estimate of intellectual ability?

A

If the difference between the highest and lowest Index scores is less than 1.5SD, i.e. 23 points, then the FSIQ can be interpreted.

38
Q

How would you determine if the GAI is a reliable and valid measure of general intellectual ability?

A

If the difference between the VCI and PRI is less than 1.5SD i.e. 23 points,then the GAI may be calculated and interpreted as a reliable and valid measure of general intellectual ability.

If the difference between the VCI and PRI is 23+ then the variation in the Indexes that comprise the GAI is too great for the purpose of summarising global ability in a single score. Therefore neither the FSIQ or GAI is interpretable and global ability cannot be meaningfully conveyes in a single score.

39
Q

How is the GAI derived?

A

Sum the Scaled Scores for the three VCI subtests and three PRI subtests.

No more than two substitutions for the GAI are allowed, and they must be from different Index scales.

40
Q

What is the age range for the WAIS-IV?

A

16:0-90:11

41
Q

What are the limits to substitution?

A

You can substitue 1 subtest per index, and 2 subtests total for the FSIQ.

42
Q

A client obtains an FSIQ of 80, VCI or 78, PCI of 85, PSI of 68 and a WMI of 82, would they qualify for centrelink disability pension?

A

The client would not qualify for a disability pension based on intellectual disability, as their FSIQ of 80 us NOT 2 SDs below the mean. To qualify, they would require an FSIQ of 70 or less.

43
Q

A client is having difficulty gaining employment, and scores FSIQ of 70. What do you do next?

A

You would ALWAYS look at the indexes next (regardless of what the FSIQ score was), and consider the percentiles in order to have a more comrehensive understanding of his cognitive ability.

You cannot give the client feedback on the FSIQ, or suggest disability possibility, or assume mental health issues yet.

44
Q

Your client is 17 years old with possible intellectual delay/disability, do you administer a WISC or WAIS?

A

You administer a WAIS because the WISC is only valid up to 16:11. There are no WISC norms for 17 year olds even if you suspect low functioning!

45
Q

Why might you use a WISC for a 16:6 yo who is doing poorly at school?

A

You would choose a WISC over a WAIS because they may have lower intellectual functioning. A WAIS might not have low enough questions i.e. the ‘floor’ is too high for them and you don’t have anything easier to ask them if the first question is too hard!

46
Q

Why would you complete all 15 tests (the full battery)?

A

You would complete the full battery to generate multiple hypotheses to explain the results they obtain.

Incorrect answers: increasing validity, reliability or comprehensive assessment is incorrect because the WAIS is already all of these things!!

47
Q

A 30yoo women scores 72 in perceptual reasoning and 100 in verbal comprehension, what could you interpret from these scores?

A
  • She performs better on the verbal comprehension index compared to the perceptual reasoning index.
  • Her crystallised intelligence is superior (knowledge/learning from reading/school etc)
  • You can still make conclusions/compare 2 numbers despite significant differences (just means you cannot interpret them as one thing e.g. the GAI)
48
Q

What does 2 SD represent on FSIQ?

A

2 SD above the FSIQ mean (100) = giftedness (130 or more)

2 SD below the FSIQ = intellectual disability (70 or less)

49
Q

What is a significant difference between indexes?

A

1.5 SD = 23 points or more

50
Q

What is a significant difference between scaled scores making up an index?

A

1.5 SD = 5 points (as 1 SD = 3) is a significant difference. If this occurs between scaled scores on one index then the index is non-unitary and interpreting it as a whole index may not be useful or informative way to interpret results.

National Psychology Exam (12 decks)

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