The study investigated the relationship between effective intelligence, as conceptualized in the Adaptive Behavior Scale, and WAIS subtest scatter. The sample consisted of 102 mentally retarded subjects. Increased amounts of scatter were inversely related to some Part One (adaptive behavior) domains (i.e., Economic Activity, Socialization) and directly related to certain Part Two (maladaptive behavior) domains (i.e., Violent and Destructive Behaviors, Unacceptable Vocal Habits). The relationships remained significant even after the effects of IQ were held constant. The results suggest that, contrary to common clinical lore, scatter is associated with lower, rather than higher, effective intelligence.
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