WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE

SCALE
FOURTH EDITION
(WAIS-IV)
Presented by : Priya
Thasneem
Mohak
Rupal
Kavya
 WECHSLER’S VIEW OF INTELLIGENCE

• According to Wechsler (1939), “Intelligence is the global and

aggregate capacity of an individual to think rationally, act
purposefully, and to deal effectively with his/her environment.”
 WAIS: INTRODUCTION

• David Wechsler was the first to devise a series of tests designed for specific age groups.

• Weschler was dissatisfied with the fact that the Stanford-Binet test was designed for children but being
administered to adults, he developed an IQ test specifically for adults :

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2008)

• He later designed tests specifically for older school-age children and preschool children, as well as those in
the early grades :

• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V; Wechsler, 2014)

• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV; Wechsler, 2012)

WAIS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

• Wechsler-Bellevue 1939

• Wechsler-Bellevue II 1946

• WAIS 1955

• WAIS-R 1981

• WAIS-III 1997

• WAIS-IV 2008
 TEST DESCRIPTION (WAIS-IV)

• The WAIS-IV is composed of 15 subtests.

• The test framework of WAIS-IV is organized into four index scales: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning,

Working Memory, and Processing Speed.

• The Full Scale IQ, is a measure of overall cognitive ability. FSIQ is comprised of four indexes: the Verbal Comprehension

Index, Perceptual Reasoning Index, Working Memory Index, and Processing Speed Index. The scores from each index

scale contributes to Full Scale, which is used to derive Full Scale IQ (FSIQ).

• The subtests within each scale are used to derive the corresponding index score i.e. Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI),

Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI) , and Processing Speed Index (PRI).
 TEST DESCRIPTION (WAIS-IV)

• General Ability Index (GAI) was included, because neurologically compromised populations display fluid impairments,

which may conceal differences between general cognitive ability and other functions. It is based only on the six subtests

that comprise the VCI and PRI.

• Note: The WAIS-IV is comprised of 15 subtests, but only 10 of the subtests, known as core subtests, are needed to obtain

the traditional IQ score and the component index scores. The other five subtests are deemed supplemental. These are often

used to provide additional clinical information; in specific instances, supplemental subtests may be used as acceptable

substitutes for core subtests.

T E S T F R A M E W O R K O F WA I S - I V
 VERBAL C OMPREHENSION INDEX SCALE Verbal
Comprehension
Verbal Comprehension Index includes subtests that measure verbal abilities including expression of lexical Index (VCI)
and semantic knowledge, concept formation, abstract reasoning, and problem solving. It includes: 3 core
subtests (Similarities, Vocabulary & Information), and 1 supplemental subtest (Comprehension) i.e. 4
Similarities
subtests.

1. Similarities: Concept formation and abstract reasoning for pairs of related words.

• Eg. In what way are an ENEMY and a FRIEND alike? In what way are ACCEPTANCE and DENIAL Vocabulary
alike?

2. Vocabulary: Lexical knowledge and expressive vocabulary.

Information
• Eg. What does COMPASSION mean? What does EVOLVE mean?

3. Information: Degree of one’s general semantic knowledge.

Comprehensio
• Eg. What day comes after Sunday? Who was Mahatma Gandhi? n
4. Comprehension: Practical knowledge and judgment using knowledge of abstract social conventions and
 Perceptual
P E R C E P T U A L R E A S O NI N G I N D E X S C A L E Reasoning Index
(PRI)

Block
The Perceptual Reasoning Index includes subtests that measure nonverbal perception, organization, Design
manipulation, and reasoning.. It includes: 3 core subtests (Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, & Visual
Puzzles), and 2 supplemental subtest (Figure Weights & Picture Completion) i.e. 5 subtests. Matrix
Reasoning
1. Block Design: Visual spatial processing and problem solving; visual motor construction.

• Eg. After looking at a pattern or design, Visual

Puzzles
try to arrange small cubes in the same pattern.

Figure
Weights

Picture
Completion
 Perceptual
P E R C E P T U A L R E A S O NI N G I N D E X S C A L E Reasoning Index
(PRI)

Block
2. Matrix Reasoning: Non-verbal abstract problem solving, inductive reasoning. Design
• Eg. After looking at the incomplete matrix series, select an option that completes the matrix or series.
Matrix
Reasoning

Visual
Puzzles

Figure
Weights

Picture
Completion
 Perceptual
P E R C E P T U A L R E A S O NI N G I N D E X S C A L E Reasoning Index
(PRI)

Block
3. Visual Puzzles: Visual spatial reasoning. Design
• Eg.
Matrix
Reasoning

Visual
Puzzles

Figure
Weights

Picture
Completion
 Perceptual
P E R C E P T U A L R E A S O NI N G I N D E X S C A L E Reasoning Index
(PRI)

4. Figure Weights: Ability to quickly perceive visual details. Block

Design
• Eg.

Matrix
Reasoning

Visual
Puzzles

Figure
Weights

Picture
Completion
 Perceptual
P E R C E P T U A L R E A S O NI N G I N D E X S C A L E Reasoning Index
(PRI)

Block
5. Picture Completion: Quantitative reasoning. Design
• Eg. There is a missing part in the picture. Look at each picture correctly and tell me the missing part.

Matrix
Reasoning

Visual
Puzzles

Figure
Weights

Picture
Completion
 WORKING MEMORY INDEX SCALE

The Working Memory Index is comprised of subtests that assess simultaneous and sequential processing, Working
Memory Index
attention, and concentration.. It includes: 2 core subtests (Digit Span & Arithmetic), and 1 supplemental
(WMI)
subtest (Letter-Number Sequencing) i.e. 3 subtests.

1. Digit Span: Working memory, attention, encoding, auditory processing.

Digit Span
• Eg. Recall lists of numbers, some lists forward and some lists in reverse order, and recall a mixed list of
numbers in correct ascending order.

2. Arithmetic: Quantitative reasoning, concentration, mental manipulation. Arithmetic

• Eg. Three women divided 18 golf balls equally among themselves. How many golf balls did each
person receive? Letter-
• 3. Letter-Number Sequencing: Working memory, attention, mental control.
Number
Sequencing
• Eg. Participants must recall a series of numbers in increasing order and letters in alphabetical order.
 PROCESSING SPEED INDEX SCALE
Processing
The Processing Speed Index includes subtests the measure the speed of mental and graphomotor Speed Index
processing. It includes: 2 core subtests (Digit Span & Arithmetic), and 1 supplemental subtest (Letter-
(PSI)
Number Sequencing) i.e. 3 subtests.
Symbol
1. Symbol Search: Visuo-perceptual speed, visuomotor coordination, visual scanning, visual working
Search
memory, decision-making.

• Eg. Is either one of the symbols in the top row also in the bottom row?
Coding

Cancellati
on
 PROCESSING SPEED INDEX SCALE
Processing
2. Coding : Visuo-perceptual speed, visuomotor coordination, visual working memory. Speed Index
(PSI)
• Eg. Learn a different symbol for specific numbers and then fill in the blank under the

number with the correct symbol. Symbol

Search

Coding

Cancellati
on
 PROCESSING SPEED INDEX SCALE
Processing
3. Cancellation: Visuo-perceptual speed.
Speed Index
(PSI)
• Eg.

Symbol
Search

Coding

Cancellati
on