WAIS Flashcards
What is the purpose of the WAIS-IV?
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.
What is the General Ability Index?
- 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.
Why would you use a WISC-V instead of the WAIS-IV?
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.
What does Block Design measure?
BD is part of the Perceptual Reasoning Index and measures the ability to analyse and synthesise abstract visual stimuli.
What does Similarities measure?
SI is part of the Verbal Comprehension Index and measure verbal concept formation and reasoning.
What does Digit Span measure?
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
What does Matrix Reasoning measure?
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.
What does Vocabulary measure?
VC is part of the Verbal Comprehension Index and measures word knowledge, verbal concept formation and crystallised intelligence.
What does Arithmetic measure?
AR is part of the Working Memory Index and measures mental manipulation, concentration, attention, ST/LT memory, numerical reasoning and mental alertness.
What does Symbol Search measure?
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.
What does Visual Puzzles measure?
VP is part of the Perceptual Reasoning Index and measures nonverbal reasoning and the ability to analyse and synthesize abstract visual stimuli.
What does Information measure?
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.
What does Coding measure?
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.
What subtest/s could be supplemented for the Verbal Comprehension Index?
Comprehension: to measure verbal reasoning and conceptualisation, verbal comprehension and expression, using past experience and practical knowledge, crystallised knowledge.
What subtest/s could be supplemented for the Perceptual Reasoning Index?
Figure Weights = measuring quantitative and analogical reasoning.
Picture Completion = measuring visual perception and organisation, concentration and visual recognition of essential details of objects.
What subtest/s could be supplemented in to the Working Memory Index?
Letter-Number Sequencing = measuring sequential processing, mental manipulation, attention, concentration, memory span, and short term auditory memory.
What subtest/s could be supplemented in the Processing Speed Index?
Cancellation = measuring processing speed, visual selective attention, vigilance, perceptual speed, and visual-motor ability.
What does the Verbal Comprehension Index measure?
- 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
What does the Perceptual Reasoning Index measure?
- Perceptual and fluid reasoning
- Spatial processing
- Visual-motor integration
- Fluid Intelligence
What does the Working Memory Index measure?
- 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