Comparison of WAIS-R Selected Subtest Short Forms in a Mixed Clinical Population

Abstract

Abbreviated forms of the revised edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) attempt to shorten the administration time of the test without adversely affecting the results. Seven different short forms of the WAIS-R were compared in a mixed clinical sample to evaluate short form predictions of Full Scale IQ (FSIQ). Correlation coefficients for each short form indicate that Ward's seven-subtest short form predicts IQ scores most closely to FSIQ scores across ranges of intellectual functioning. In this sample, 96% of the patients obtained FSIQ scores within 5 points of their actual FSIQ when using this short form. Two tetrad short forms yielded scores that were close to actual FSIQ scores, however to a lesser degree. These results are consistent with other studies using Ward's seven-subtest short form, and, therefore, suggest that this particular version is a reliable and valid substitute for a full WAIS-R when time is limited.