WAIS-IV

Question 1

What ages can take the WAIS-IV (Adult)

Answer 1

16 - 90

Question 2

Describe Similarities subtest

Answer 2

• Examinee is read 2 common objects or concepts and must say how they are alike
• Not timed
• Measures comprehension associative and logical reasoning/flexibility of thinking

Question 3

Describe Vocabulary subtest

Answer 3

• Examinee is read words and asked to “tell me what this means”
• Measures word knowledge
• Not timed
• record answers verbatim
• Best measure of g within WAIS

Question 4

Describe Information subtest

Answer 4

• Examinee is asked questions about a broad range of topics, for example “who was MLK?
• Not timed
• Measures general fund of knowledge/memory recall

Question 5

Describe Comprehension subtest

Answer 5

• Examinee is asked questions about social and other situations and asked questions, such as “Why should children not be allowed to work in factories?”
• Not timed
• Measures:
  
  • Awareness and judgment in social situations
  • Abstract/logical reasoning
  • Social problem solving

Question 6

Describe Block Design subtest

Answer 6

• Examinee is shown 2-D geometric designs and asked to copy them using 3-D blocks (cubes)
• Timed
• Measures:
  
  • Problem-solving
  • Spatial reasoning

Question 7

Describe Matrix Reasoning subtest

Answer 7

• Examinee is asked to identify patterns in designs.
• Examinee is asked to select from an array of five choices which pattern best
• Measures: Part-whole recognition, Pattern completion/inductive reasoning

Question 8

Describe Visual Puzzles subtest

Answer 8

• The examinee views a completed puzzle and selects three response options that, when combined, reconstruct the puzzle.
• Timed
• Measures: Part-whole recognition, Fluid intelligence

Question 9

Describe Figure Weights subtest

Answer 9

• The examinee is shown individual pictures of a 2-tray balance scale with weights on one side tray and missing weights on the other side tray. The examinee is required to choose the option that will balance the scale from five choices.
• Timed
• Measures: Visual recognition, Speed of mental processing

Question 10

Describe Picture Completion subtest

Answer 10

• The examinee views pictures of common objects, nature scenes or activities and is required to identify the single most important detail missing from the image.
• The examinee can indicate the response by naming or pointing to the missing feature.
• 20-second time limit for the response.
• Measures: Quantitative analysis. Attention, concentration, working memory

Question 11

Describe Digit Span subtest

Answer 11

• The examinee is read a series of numbers of increasing length and required to repeat the numbers in order (Forward), in reverse order (Backward), and from lowest to highest (Sequencing)
• Not timed
• Measures: Short-term auditory memory, Mental manipulation, Auditory recall

Question 12

Describe Arithmetic subtest

Answer 12

• The examinee is read word problems and required to complete the calculation in their head without the use of paper and pencil
• Timed conditions
• Measures: Basic calculation skills / mental math, Working memory

Question 13

Describe Letter-Number Sequencing subtest

Answer 13

• The examinee is read a sequence of numbers and letters and asked to recall the numbers in ascending order and the letters in alphabetical order
• Not timed
• Measures: Mental manipulation, Sequential processing, Mental dual processing and re-organization

Question 14

Describe Symbol Search subtest

Answer 14

• The examinee is shown 2 target symbols, scans an array of 5 abstract visual symbols, and decides whether each of the 2 targets appear in the array.
• Timed
• Measures: Perceptual recognition speed, Visual perceptual scanning

Question 15

Describe Coding subtest

Answer 15

• The examinee receives a test form with a coding key at the top consisting of boxes containing a numeral from 1 through 9 in the top half of the box and a unique symbol below each number.
• In the empty space the examinee is required to write the symbol that is paired with the number above in the top half of the box.
• The examinee must complete items in the order presented.
• Timed
• Measures:
  
  • Working Memory
  • Verbal and nonverbal information processing
  • Graphomotor speed

Question 16

Describe Cancellation subtest

Answer 16

• The examinee scans two-page arrays of colored shapes to identify target items.
• Timed task
• Measures: Visuomotor speed, Mental processing speed

Question 17

How many subtests make up the FSIQ?

Answer 17

10

Question 18

How many/what types of subtests make up the GAI?

Answer 18

• 3 core Verbal Comprehension subtests

- 3 core Perceptual Reasoning subtests

Question 19

When to use/not use supplemental subtests

Answer 19

Use when:

• A core subtest is spoiled or invalidated
• Other clinical reason for substitution
• Additional information on specific area of cognitive function is needed

Don’t use:
- simply because one of the core subtest scores is much lower than the others

Question 20

What are some common administration errors with the WAIS?

Answer 20

• Failure to question responses when indicated

- Questioning/querying responses inappropriately

Question 21

What subtests make up the VCI?

Answer 21

Similarities, Vocab, Information, [comprehension]

Question 22

What subtests make up the PRI?

Answer 22

Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles, [figure weights, picture completion]

Question 23

What subtests make up the WMI?

Answer 23

Digit Span, Arithmetic, [Letter-Number Sequencing]

Question 24

What subtests make up the PSI?

Answer 24

Symbol Search, Coding, [cancellation]

Question 25

How do you determine whether to use the FSIQ or GAI?

Answer 25

- Subtract highest from lowest Index Score - Difference less than 23 points (1.5 SD) = FSIQ is reliable and valid estimate of intellectual ability - Difference is more than 23 points (1.5 SD) = cannot use FSIQ, check if GAI can be used to describe overall intellectual ability - Difference between VCI and PRI is more than 23 points = GAI not interpretable/useable - If neither FSIQ nor GAI is interpretable, global ability cannot be meaningfully communicated as a single composite score - Difference between VCI and PRI is less than 23 points = calculate and use GAI - Sum 6 scaled scores for VCI and PRI subtests - Look up sum of scaled scores in technical manual - Perform discrepancy analysis using FSIQ and GAI - Subtract GAI from FSIQ - Look up critical value in technical manual to see if significant difference at .05

Question 26

How do you test the individual index scores to see if they're valid/reliable?

Answer 26

- Calculate difference between highest and lowest subtest scaled scores for VCI, PRI, WMI, and PSI - Difference is less than 5 points (1.5 SD) = unitary and interpretable - Difference more than 5 points (1.5 SD) = not interpretable, thus the composite score (Index Score) is not considered reliable and valid

Question 27

How do you compare index scores?

Answer 27

- Compare each index score to the others - Calculate difference in scores - Look up critical value (using .05) & is this a significant difference? - Look up Base Rate

Question 28

How do you Determine Normative Strengths and Weaknesses in Index Profile?

Answer 28

- Only include indexes that are unitary and interpretable - Normative strength = Index score is greater than 1.5 SD above the mean - Standard score is greater than 115 - Normative Weakness = Index score is 1.5 SD below the mean - Standard scores is less than 85 - Within Normal Limits = Index Score is between 85 and 115

Question 29

How do you Evaluate Personal Strengths and Weaknesses?

Answer 29

- Compare individual’s performance on specific subtests to the mean of their scores within a Composite - Calculate mean of all scaled scores - Calculate the differences for each subtest - Look up critical value - Determine if a strength or weakness - Look up Base Rates - Decide whether to use the mean of the 10 subtests used to derive the FSIQ or use the mean of the 3 VCI and 3 PRI subtests separately