COMPLETING AN ASSESSMENT VIA THE WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE IV

Referral Question: “Please assess this individual in terms of her ability to qualify for enrollment in a university for gifted adults.”

Client Demographics: 19-year-old single female named Paige, no children, lives alone, graduated high school with 4.0 GPA. Works as a laboratory assistant at local hospital. Both parents are alive and live nearby. Mom is a brain surgeon and father is a bio nuclear engineer. Has 1 brother who is 15 years of age and in top 2 percent of class. Also, has 1 sister 22 years of age who was previously assessed as highly advanced.

Assessment Instrument: When conducting an assessment to determine if Paige will make a good candidate for enrollment at a university for gifted students, I will use the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV, to measure her current degree of intelligence. When using this assessment instrument, I will acquire measurements via four index scores that represent what are considered major components, and then two broad scores which are:

1. Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) - this is the score that identifies the total performance of VCI, PRI, WMI, and PSI.
2. General Ability Index (GAI) - this is the score of all six subtests which are included in the VCI and PRI.

There are also 10 subtests within each of the four major components and “five supplemental subtests” that can be measured, if needed. (Cohen, Swerdlik. 2010) A complete WAIS-IV, what each score is suppose too measure, and how these scores will contribute to the referral question, has also been provided below:

1. Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)

• Similarities (subtest) - abstract verbal reasoning 
• Vocabulary (subtest) - learned, comprehension and verbal expression 
• Information (subtest) - general information that is acquired from culture
• Comprehension (supplemental) - abstract social conventions, rules and expressions

These scores will contribute to the referral question by identifying the overall cognitive degree of verbal comprehension that Paige has developed. Although, the first 3 scores are initially measured to identify the FSIQ and GAI, the supplemental score can also be used when needed. One example of when this can be used is if there was an error when acquiring any of the initial subtest scores.

2. Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI)

• Block Design (subtest) - spatial perception, problem solving, and visual abstract processing
• Matrix Reasoning (subtest) - spatial inductive reasoning, nonverbal abstract problem solving
• Visual Puzzles (subtest) - spatial reasoning only
• Picture Completion (supplemental) - how quickly one perceives visual details
• Figure Weights (supplemental) - analogical/quantitative reasoning 

These scores will contribute to the referral question by identifying the overall cognitive degree of perceptual reasoning that Paige has developed. Although, the first 3 scores are initially measured to identify the FSIQ and GAI, but the two supplemental scores can also be used when needed. One example of when these can be used is if there was an error when acquiring any of the initial subtest scores.

3. Working Memory Index (WMI)

• Digit Span (subtest) - mental control, concentration and attention
• Arithmetic (subtest) - concentration when manipulating mathematical problems
• Letter-Number Sequencing (supplemental) - attention, mental control and concentration

These scores will contribute to the referral question by identifying the overall cognitive degree of working memory that Paige has developed. Although, the first 2 scores are initially measured to identify the FSIQ, the supplemental score can also be used when needed. One example of when this can be used is if there was an error when acquiring any of the initial subtest scores.

4. Processing Speed Index (PSI)

• Symbol Search (subtest) - visual perception, visual analysis and scanning speed
• Coding (subtest) - visual/motor coordination, motor/mental speed and visual working memory
• Cancellation (supplemental) - visual and perceptual speed

These scores will contribute to the referral question by identifying the overall cognitive degree of processing speed that Paige has developed. Although, the first 2 scores are initially measured to identify the FSIQ, the supplemental score can also be used when needed. One example of when this can be used is if there was an error when acquiring any of the initial subtest scores.

Reference:Cohen, R. J., & Swerdlik, M. E. (2010). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.