On the Comparability of the Wais and Wais-R: Review of the Research and Implications for Clinical Practice

Abstract

A review of WAIS/WAIS-R comparison studies is presented. Three methodologies have been used to assess scale comparability: (a) test-retest; (b) combined administration; and (c) equivalent groups. Results indicated that the WAIS-R yielded lower IQs than the WAIS for normals and groups with psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. The median WAIS/WAIS-R discrepancies across studies were - 6.6, - 6.4, and - 6.8 for the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs, respec tively. However, it was noted that differences were larger for persons of average as opposed to bright normal or superior intelligence. The single in vestigation that utilized retarded subjects found the WAIS-R Verbal and Full Scale IQs to be higher than corresponding WAIS values. These results should alert clinicians to the possibility that different relationships may exist between WAIS and WAIS-R scores at different points on the in telligence distribution.

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