Validity of the Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence and other very short forms of estimating intellectual functioning

Assessment. 2002 Mar;9(1):17-23. doi: 10.1177/1073191102009001003.

Abstract

Performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) was compared to performance on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), as well as short form estimations of intellectual functioning derived from WAIS-III performance, in a mixed clinical sample of 72 participants. The WASI verbal IQ (VIQ) score was significantly higher than the WAIS-III VIQ, whereas performance IQ (PIQ) estimates all differed from actual WAIS-III PIQ and full scale IQ (FSIQ). Correlations of WAIS-III scores with WASI scores were consistently lower than were correlations between the WASI-III and all other short forms. Although maintaining administration times of 15 minutesfor a two-subtest FSIQ and 30 minutes for a four-subtest FSIQ, the WASI did not consistently demonstrate desirable accuracy in predicting scores obtained from the WAIS-III. The results suggest that clinicians should use the WASI cautiously if at all, especially when accurate estimates of individuals' WAIS-III results are needed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Humans
  • Intelligence Tests*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • United States
  • Wechsler Scales*