The General Ability Index (GAI) and Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) are two index scores that can be calculated for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Canadian Edition ((WISC-IVCDN). The GAI comprises the verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning subtests and reflects reasoning abilities. The CPI includes the working memory and processing-speed subtests that are more focused on the proficiency and efficiency of cognitive processing. This article presents GAI and CPI patterns observed in several small samples of referred children and includes three brief case examples of how the scores can provide another lens for analyzing children’s abilities with the WISC-IVCDN.
AllowayT. P. (2006). How does working memory work in the classroom?Educational Research and Reviews, 1, 134-139. Retrived from http://www.academicjournals.org/ERR
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
3.
BerningerV. W.O’DonnellL.HoldnackJ. (2008). Research-supported differential diagnosis of specific learning disabilities and implications for instruction and response to instruction. In PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H.WeissL. G. (Eds.), WISC-IV clinical assessment and intervention (2nd ed., pp. 69-110). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
4.
CalhounS. L.MayesS. D. (2005). Processing speed in children with clinical disorders. Psychology in the Schools, 42, 333-343. doi:10.1002/pits.2006710.1002/pits.20067
5.
DumontR.WillisJ. (2001). Use of the Tellegen & Briggs formula to determine the Dumont–Willis Indexes (DWI-1 & DWI-2) for the WISC-IV. Retrived from http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/
6.
FryA. F.HaleS. (2000). Relationships among processing speed, working memory, and fluid intelligence in children. Biological Psychology, 54, 1-34. doi:10.1016/S0301-0511(00)00051-X10.1016/S0301-0511(00)00051-X
7.
HarrisonA. G.DeLisleM. M.ParkerK. C. H. (2008). An investigation of the General Abilities Index in a group of diagnostically mixed patients. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 26, 247-259. doi:10.1177/073428290730403210.1177/0734282907304032
8.
JohnsonE. S.HumphreyM.MellardD. F.WoodsK.SwansonH. L. (2010). Cognitive processing deficits and students with specific learning disabilities: A selective meta-analysis of the literature. Learning Disability Quarterly, 33, 3-18. Retrived from http://www.cldinternational.org/Publications/LDQ.asp
9.
LongmanR. S. (2004). Values for comparison of WAIS-III index scores with overall means. Psychological Assessment, 16, 323-325. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.16.3.32310.1037/1040-3590.16.3.323
10.
National Association for Gifted Children. (2008). Position statement: Use of the WISC-IV for gifted identification. Retrived from http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=2455
11.
NewmanT. M.SparrowS. S.PfeifferS. I. (2008). The use of the WISC-IV in assessment and intervention planning for children who are gifted. In PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H.WeissL. G. (Eds.), WISC-IV clinical assessment and intervention (2nd ed., pp. 217-272). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
12.
PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H.WeissL. G. (Eds.). (2008). WISC-IV clinical assessment and intervention (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
13.
PrifiteraA.WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H. (1998). The WISC-III in context. In PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H. (Eds.), WISC-III clinical use and interpretation: Scientist-practitioner perspectives (pp. 1-38). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
14.
RaifordS. E.WeissL. G.RolfhusE.CoalsonD. (2005). WISC-IV technical report #4: General Ability Index. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
15.
SaklofskeD. H.ZhuJ.CoalsonD. L.RaifordS. E.WeissL. G. (2010). Cognitive proficiency index for the Canadian edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 25, 277-286. doi:10.1177/082957351038053910.1177/0829573510380539
16.
SaklofskeD. H.ZhuJ.RaifordS. E.WeissL. G.RolfhusE.CoalsonD. (2005). WISC-IV technical report #4.1:General Ability Index Canadian Norms. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
17.
SchweanV. L.McCrimmonA. (2008). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Using the WISC-IV to inform intervention planning. In PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H.WeissL. G. (Eds.), WISC-IV clinical assessment and intervention (2nd ed., pp. 194-216). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
18.
SwansonH. L.SaezL. (2003). Memory difficulties in children and adults with learning disabilities. In SwansonH. L.GrahamS.HarrisK. R. (Eds.), Handbook of learning disabilities (pp. 182-198). New York, NY: Guildford.
19.
TulskyD. S.SaklofskeD. H.WilkinsC.WeissL. G. (2001). Development of a general ability index for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Third Edition. Psychological Assessment, 13, 566-571. doi:10.1037//1040-3590.13.4.56610.1037//1040-3590.13.4.566
20.
WechslerD. (1991). Wechsler intelligence scale for children—third edition (WISC-III). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
21.
WechslerD. (1997). Wechsler adult intelligence scale—third edition (WAIS-III). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
22.
WechslerD. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children—fourth edition (WISC-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
23.
WechslerD. (2004). Wechsler intelligence scale for children—fourth edition (WISC-IV): Canadian Manual. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Harcourt Assessment.
24.
WechslerD. (2008). Wechsler adult intelligence scale—fourth edition (WAIS-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
25.
WeissL.GabelA. D. (2008). WISC-IV technical report #6: Using the Cognitive Proficiency Index in psychoeducational assessment. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
26.
WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H.CoalsonD. L.RaifordS. E. (2010). Theoretical, empirical and clinical foundations of the WAIS-IV index scores. In WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H.CoalsonD. (Eds.), WAIS-IV clinical use and interpretation: Scientist-practitioner perspectives (pp. 61-96). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
27.
WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H.PrifiteraA. (2005). Interpreting the WISC-IV index scores. In PrifiteraA.SaklofskeD. H.WeissL. G. (Eds.), WISC-IV: Clinical use and interpretation (pp. 72-101). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
28.
WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H.SchwartzD. M.PrifiteraA.CourvilleT. (2006). Advanced clinical interpretation of WISC-IV index scores. In WeissL. G.SaklofskeD. H.PrifiteraA.HoldnackJ. A. (Eds.), WISC-IV: Advanced clinical interpretation (pp. 139-180). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
