Faculty Articles
WAIS-IV index and full scale intelligence quotient score differences between standard and prorated scoring methods
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Archives of Assessment Psychology
Publication Date
1-2013
Abstract
Standard scoring methods for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) require that all core subtests be used to compute index scores, yet it is possible to prorate certain indices using a reduced number of subtests. The purpose of this study is to explore differences in WAIS-IV Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Full Scale IQ Index scores as a result of using standard versus prorated scoring methods. Participants were 149 adults, ages 18 to 84 who were previously administered the WAIS-IV. Protocols were scored using standard scoring methods and then re-scored using each alternate proration combination for Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Full Scale IQ Indices. One-factor repeated measures ANOVAs and post-hoc paired t-tests revealed that any verbal subtest may be removed without significantly altering Verbal Comprehension Index scores. Block Design + Matrix Reasoning produced the most accurate Perceptual Reasoning Index score estimates. When verbal and perceptual tests were removed from Full Scale IQ calculations, Block Design + Visual Puzzles produced significantly lower Full Scale IQ Index scores, and any inclusion of Matrix Reasoning + Visual Puzzles (in isolation or in combination with any of the Verbal Comprehension Index proration options) produced significantly higher Full Scale IQ scores. Results of removing working memory and/or processing speed subtests indicated that omitting Digit Span alone and omitting Symbol Search alone were the only two proration options that did not artificially inflate Full Scale IQ Index score estimations. The risks of prorating scores at the expense of losing accuracy must be measured against the benefits gained by doing so, and which subtests to omit must be chosen judiciously. The results of this study provide clinicians with guidelines to use when attempting to obtain prorated scores that are not significantly different from standard index scores.
Volume
3
Issue
1
First Page
57
Last Page
77
NSUWorks Citation
Olivier, T. W.,
Golden, C. J.,
Acevedo, A.,
Sterk, V. I.
(2013). WAIS-IV index and full scale intelligence quotient score differences between standard and prorated scoring methods. Archives of Assessment Psychology, 3(1), 57-77.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1288