A Comparison of Wisc and Wisc-R Scores of Sixth Grade Students: Implications for Validity

Abstract

Fifty-nine sixth-grade volunteers, 32 males, 27 females, 10 blacks, 49 whites were administered both the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R).

Each student was tested in two separate sessions by the same examiner. The students were randomly divided into two groups with one group administered the WISC first and the other administered the WISC-R first. The scores of both groups were combined to form the Total Group.

In the Total Group, the mean WISC-R Verbal Scale (VS) and Full Scale (FS) IQ scores were significantly lower than the corresponding mean WISC IQ scores.

Although the differences between WISC and WISC-R mean IQ scores were not so great as those found by some other investigators, the findings do support previous research which has revealed the mean WISC-R FS scores to be lower than mean WISC FS scores. However, the correlation coefficients between the WISC and WISC-R for all three IQ scores were significant. Thus, the two instruments do appear to be measuring similar abilities.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Blackman, P. G. , Gerkin, K. C. , and Snider, B. C. F. A Comparison of the WISC and WISC-R for Black, White, Chanicano Children . Paper presented to the National Association of School Psychologist Annual meeting, Cincinnati, March 1977.

Brooks, C. R. Wisc , WISC-R, S-B, L and M, WRAT: Relationships and trends among children ages six to ten referred for psychological evaluation, Psychology in the Schools, 1977, 14, 30-33.

Covin, T. M. Comparability of WISC and WISC-R full scale IQs for elementary school children with learning difficulties , Psychological Reports, 1976, 39, 280.

Hamm, H. , Wheeler, J. , McCallum, S. , Herrin, M. , Hunter, D. , and Catoe, C. A comparison between the WISC and WISC-R among educable mentally retarded student, Psychology in the Schools, 1976, 13, 4-8.

Hartlage, L. and Steele, C. WISC and WISC-R correlates of academic achievement, Psychology in the Schools, 1977, 14, 15-18.

Schwarting, G. A comparison of the WISC and WISC-R, Psychology in the Schools, 1976, 13, 139-141.

Wechsler, D. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1949.

Wechsler, D. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1974.

Zimmerman, I. L. WISC-R minus WISC differences for referred children. Paper presented at American Psychological Association annual meeting , Chicago, 1975.