The WISC-R Subtest Profile of a Sample of Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children

Abstract

The WISC-R subtest profiles of 113 children classified as severely emotionally disturbed (88 males and 25 females; 71 Caucasians and 42 Negroes) ranging in age from 6 yr., 11 mo. to 13 yr., 8 mo. was examined. Diagnosis was based on psychological testing and quantitative assessment of behavioral deviations by parents, teachers, and psychologists. Scores for Caucasian children were significantly superior to those of Negro children, on the Information, Similarities, Vocabulary, and Picture Arrangement subtests. However, all subtest means foe both races were significantly lower than those in the standardization sample. A multivariate test of interaction and a Hotelling T² suggested that the profiles of Caucasian and Negro subjects were not “flat” as those in the standardization sample and also not parallel. Investigation of the shape of the profiles of the races showed an elevated Picture Completion score for the Negro children and a depressed Coding score for Caucasian children. No evidence supported a discrepancy between Verbal and Performance abilities.

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