1 - The WISC-IV in the Clinical Assessment Context

Abstract

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is used in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes in research, clinical evaluations, and for other types of assessments and uses. Its strength has been its robustness and its ability to provide valuable information in a wide variety of assessments including neuropsychological assessments, a field that was in its infancy when Wechsler began developing his scales. The WISC-III as a Process Instrument (WISC-III PI) introduced a process based on this approach of assessment developed by Dr. Edith Kaplan and her coauthors. One of the major innovations for WISC-IV is the incorporation of the process approach into the WISC-IV from the beginning. The WISC-IV is published in two versions. The WISC-IV contains the revisions to the core of the test and is the major part of the revision to WISC-III. The WISC-IV Integrated incorporates and expands the process approach to assessment and clinical interpretation from the WISC-III PI and integrates this approach into one manual and a record form, and combined set of stimulus materials for those wishing to incorporate this approach into their assessment tools and technique. This innovation expands the domains of psychological processes assessed by the WISC and provides a useful clinical tool for testing limits, improving clinical and diagnostic sensitivity, and developing intervention strategies. Numerous studies with clinical groups, described in the WISC-IV manual, were undertaken to provide assistance to the clinician when interpreting scores. The WISC-IV has successfully incorporated the tasks that reflect fluid ability, so there is a greater balance in this instrument and the opportunity to observe score differences in subtests that pull more for fluid vs. crystallized intelligence.