Efficacy of the Goh Short Form of the WISC-R in the Re-Evaluation of EMR Students

Abstract

This study investigated the applicability of the Goh short form of the WISC-R for use in the re-evaluation of students classified as Educable Mentally Retarded (EMR). Sixty-one WISC-R re-evaluation protocols were recorded by the Goh method; the scores obtained then were compared to those yielded by the full form. All correlations between short- and full-form scaled scores and standard scores (IQs) were significant (p<.001). Dependent t-tests were applied between mean standard scores across the two forms for the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs. The Goh short form yielded lower IQs for the Verbal and Full Scale (p< .001); there was no significant difference on the Performance Scale. In the majority of cases (64%), the Goh short form yielded lower IQs; however, the mean difference between short- and full-form FSIQs was within the standard error of measurement (≈ points). In addition, the short form generated a 71% correct classification rate. The results suggest that the Goh short form may be an effective alternative to administering the full length WISC-R for EMR students who are undergoing triennial re-evaluation.