WAIS Subtest Scores Research Articles

Differential relationships of age and education to WAIS subtest scores among brain-damaged and control groups

The 11 subtests of the WAIS were compared to the attribute variables of age and education in a brain-damaged group and a non-brain-damaged (control) group. Because of the validity information available for the WAIS, the subtests for the WAIS rather than the WAIS-R were studied. Data analyses compared the level of age and education (each group subdivided at the median) on WAIS subtest scores and the correlations between attribute variables and subtest scores. The results revealed a number of differences between the two groups, with age and education having a weaker and less consistent relation to WAIS subtest scores in the brain-damaged group than in the control group. The findings suggest that the relationships between attribute variables and psychological test scores are complex, and that adjusting or transforming raw scores for brain-damaged subjects according to tables based upon non-brain-damaged subjects may produce erroneous data.

Relationship of anxiety and depression scores to WAIS performance of psychiatric patients.

Relationships between the D scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Taylor Scale of Manifest Anxiety and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were investigated in 464 acute psychiatric inpatients divided into four age-sex groups. Bivariate product-moment and multiple regression coefficients were obtained between Taylor's scale and D scale scores and both relative and absolute WAIS subtest scores, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and Full Scale IQ. 21 of 288 first-order and 7 of 144 multiple regression coefficients were significant. 18 of 21 significant first-order correlations occurred on timed subtests. IQ range had little effect on the magnitude or pattern of relationships obtained. With the exception of the Block Design there was little evidence of any systematic relationship between WAIS performance and either the anxiety or depression scale scores.

Cluster analysis of the WAIS on brain-damaged patients.

In recognition of increased usage of cluster analytic techniques, the current study attempted to examine sampling bounds for tests and subjects on one cluster-analytic procedure. Specifically, the WAIS subtest scores from a heterogeneous group of subjects with CNS involvement were first, factor analyzed and then clustered by means of Ward's hierarchical procedure. This methodology had been previously applied to two different samples of aphasics and aphasia batteries. In both these aphasic studies, an underlying severity dimension of language dysfunction was found. In contrast, in the current study, salient feature groups were found. Moreover, these groups were distributed in a sequential or hierarchical model in terms of specific cognitive deficits. From these data, it is argued that two major parameters in determining the resulting cluster structures are the homogeneity/heterogeneity of the sample and test battery employed. Although such a statement is obvious, the theoretical ramifications are large, in that the cluster structure may be a function of test weighting or sample diversity, not the phenomenon of interest. However, the cluster structures found in the current study were consistent with historical models of cognitive dysfunction and also lend support to hierarchical models of sequential cognitive impairment. These findings are discussed in terms of their clinical and experimental ramifications with respect to grouping subjects in terms of WAIS profiles.

Sex differences in neuropsychological performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate male and female performance on a subset of Halstead's ( 2 ) test instruments and procedures, further developed by Reitan (4 ) . The size of Gordon, O'Dell, and Bozeman's ( 1 ) original sample was expanded to 36, in part since several comparisons were almost significant. In that study male subjects did exhibit statistically superior performance in dominant and nondominant hand strength and dominant and nondominant finger tapping. Females were superior on left-hand fingertip number writing. As in the first study all subjects were right-handed and between the ages of 17 and 35 yr. of age. Since there was a significant difference in the mean age of the male subjects (M = 20.6, SD = 3.5) in comparison with the female subjects ( M = 18.9, SD = LO), an analysis of covariance was performed on the d3ta.l All of the five significant differences in the first study held up; in addition, the female subjects were significantly superior on left-hand finger agnosia, Tacrual Performance Tesc Memory and Location scores. There were no significant differences on right-hand fingertip number writing and finger agnosia, as well as dominant, nondominant, and both hand tactual performance scores. The size of the differences indicates that only the motor functions (strength and tapping scores) are of practical significance. Revisions of cut-off scores for the tapping test ( 5 ) seem adequate to compensate for the significant sex differences. As in systematic sex variation on WAIS subtest scores ( 3 ) , many of the other Halstead-Reitan differences seem to be of minimal clinical importance. For females the cluster of left-hand tactile and the visuo-spatial memory tasks suggest possible superior right-hemisphere functioning. This is of theoretical significance if not in the application of the Halstead tests in clinical situations.

Heroin addiction and the Wechsler Digit Span test.

There is some evidence that a Wechsler Digit Span scaled score well above the means of an individual's other WAIS subtest scores is diagnostically significant. Such positive Digit Span scatter seems to be a correlate of an interpersonal detachment syndrome characterized by superficial relationships and anhedonia. Negative scatter of Digit Span scaled scores considerably below the mean of other WAIS subtest scores have been viewed by some investigators as indicating depressive symptoms. Forty-two heroin addicts were compared with 41 neurotic depressive patients. The former group attained significantly higher average positive Digit Span scatter. Since heroin addicts appear more interpersonally distant and anhedonic for non-drug-related experiences, this finding was according to expectation. Digit Span scaled scores alone did not differentiate the groups. Digit Span scatter scores are clearly more desirable than scaled scores in the search for cognitive correlates of personality variables.

Behavioral correlates of WAIS profile patterns: an exploratory study.

To assess the feasibility of both an empirical derivation of WAIS subtest patterns and an actuarial assignment of behavioral descriptions to these patterns, 11 potential patterns were delineated. Three of these were studied in depth, and one of these was the focus of this report. The derivation and cross validation groups of this one pattern displayed highly similar WAIS scores on all 11 subtests, but differences between the groups in age, marital status, and some output descriptors were noted. These results were explained in terms of age acting as a moderator variable. In general, the results suggest that patterns of WAIS subtest scores can be identified and that these can be reliably associated with specific behavioral descriptors.

Methodological pitfalls in predicting counseling success

Prediction models employing multiple linear regression of raw scores, multiple linear regression of factor scores, the single best predictor, and a nine-point decision rule index were compared. The subjects were 296 clients undergoing vocational counseling and evaluation. Predictor variables included performance ratings, demographic variables, and WAIS subtest scores; the criterion was employment status upon program completion. The least statistically sophisticated model, employing the single best predictor, was the most successful approach. Considerable shrinkage in power of prediction was demonstrated upon cross-validation particularly for multiple linear regression of raw scores model, indicating the necessity of cross-validating prediction schemes. Additional suggestions are made to those designing prediction studies.

WAIS correlates of the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test in a sample of epileptic patients: differential patterns for men and women.

Intellectual correlates of the total score on the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test were investigated for a sample of adults with epilepsy. The correlations between the perceptual test score and WAIS IQ and WAIS subtest scores were consistently significant for the men but generally were not for the women. It is recommended that researchers consider separate analyses of data for males and females.

Relationships among WAIS subtest scores, patient's premorbid history, and institutionalization.

Relationships among WAIS subtest scores, patient's premorbid history, and institutionalization.

Creativity and Allocentric Perception

Seven tests were used to measure allocentric-autocentric perception. The Remote Associates Test was used for selection of high, moderate and low creative female Ss. Intelligence was controlled and differences on WAIS subtest scores were examined. A consistent rank order was obtained among groups and Ss for the hypothesized construct. WAIS subtest differences could not be meaningfully related to creativity. Childhood experience data tended to conform to MacKinnon's suggestions.

Projective drawings of brain-injured subjects.

The House-Tree-Person drawings of 90 Ss were evaluated with respect to diagnosed brain injury. Seven objective items such as window drawn on house edge and relative size of door were selected and weighted to give a scale of 22 points. This scale then yielded a mean score of 6.0 for 30 brain-injured Ss, 2.8 for Ss with various forms of physical disability, and 1.6 for 30 University of Washington students. The differences among these means were significant beyond the .001 level. A mean score of 4.8, obtained for a cross-validation group of an additional 10 brain-injured Ss, was significantly higher than the means for the control groups but not significantly different from the mean for the first brain-injured group. The relationship of diagnosed brain injury to Circular Pencil Maze scores and WAIS subtest scores on Digit Span, Vocabulary, and Block Design, as well as MMPI T scores on the schizophrenic scale were also investigated. Three illustrative cases showed that quality of drawing and “intelligence” were not major factors in the H-T-P scores for brain-injury.