The South African Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale: A critical perspective. The South African Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (SAWAIS) is applied widely, but may no longer be serving its purpose more than 25 years after its introduction. Certain negative implications for research with the test are highlighted. It is not clear which abilities the SAWAIS measures, and students are trained to use the SAWAIS in a clinical diagnostic way which is applicable to the American situation. The uncritical and one-sided way in which the SAWAIS is used as a diagnostic aid is criticized. The research literature is discussed to illustrate the many inconsistent results regarding the VIQ-PIQ discrepancy, as well as subtest scatter. It is suggested that attention should be given urgently to either the restandardization of the SAWAIS, or the compilation of a new South African intelligence test for adults.
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