Chapter 1 - Assessing Children's Intelligence and Memory: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children— Third Edition and the Children's Memory Scale

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WISC-III). The assessment of intellectual functioning is a critical component of the psychologist's mandate in the schools. Traditionally, school psychologists have evaluated intellectual functioning and learning disabilities to provide information for the assessment of mental retardation, giftedness, and learning disabilities. IQ scores provide a general overview of a child's performance relative to his or her peers, but these scores do not provide specific information regarding appropriate intervention or remedial activities. Within the past few years, the focus of cognitive assessment has shifted from an IQ score derivation to an identification of cognitive processes that underlie intellectual functioning. This shift in assessment has prompted the development of test instruments that facilitate the examination of processes or problem solving strategies. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition as a Process Instrument and The Children's Memory Scale (CMS) are the examples of tests that help facilitate the evaluation of cognitive and memory processes. The chapter presents a case study based on examination of a child's performance on both the WISC-III and the CMS.