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Guidelines for Analyzing WAIS-IV/WISC-V

WAIS-IV/WISC-V test should be used with other psychological tests, observations, and self-reports in order to create a more accurate interpretation.

2020-05-07

By 양미린 Mirin Yang, MA

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V (WISC-V) are intelligence tests that measure an adult’s and a child’s intellectual ability and five cognitive domains that impact performance. These tests have taken a crucial role in psychological testing as they can help provide concise analyses on one’s psychological state along with other psychological tests. Therefore, it is imperative to keep in mind the necessary cautions and guidelines as well as the steps to interpret the test results.

The following errors include some of the most common errors when administering these intelligence tests and thus need awareness of the test administrator: Failing to record examinee responses, circle scores, or record times; Questioning the examinee inappropriately; Incorrectly converting raw scores to standard score; Incorrectly calculating raw scores for subtest totals.

When interpreting the test results, these five levels of procedure should be taken into consideration.

Level I. Interpret the Full Scale IQ
Level II. Interpret index scores and CHC groupings
- Interpret personal strengths and weaknesses
  - Index scores: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning (Visual Spatial & Fluid Reasoning on WISC-V), Working Memory, Processing Speed
  - CHC/other custer groupings: Fluid Reasoning, Verbal Fluid Reasoning, Nonverbal Fluid Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Lexical Knowledge, General Information, Visual Processing, Cognitive Proficiency, Visual Motor Speed, Problem Solving without Visual Motor Speed, Long Term Memory, Auditory Working Memory/Short Term Memory (all core and supplemental subtests must be given to calculate CHC groupings)
Level III. Interpret subtest variability
Level IV. Qualitative/ process analysis
Level V. Analyze intrasubtest variability

Finally, WAIS-IV/WISC-V test results should not be the sole source to analyze one’s psychological state. Rather, they should be used with other psychological tests, observations, and self-reports in order to create a more accurate interpretation.