Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Introduction
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is an individually administered
measure of intelligence, intended for adults aged 16-89. The WAIS is intended to measure
human intelligence reflected in both verbal and performance abilities. Dr. David Wechsler
a clinical Psychologist, believed that intelligence is a global construct, reflecting a variety
of measurable skills and should be considered in the context of the overall personality. The
WAIS is also administering as part of the battery to make inferences about personality and
pathology, both through the content of specific answer and pattern of subset scores.
History
Wechsler’s scale is founded on his definition of intelligence, which he defined as’
… The Global capacity of a person to act purposefully, to think rationally, and deal effetely
to his environment…’ He believes that intelligence was made up of specific elements that
could be isolated, defined and subsequently measured. However, these individual elements
were not entirely independent, but all were interrelated. His arguments, in other words, is
that can general intelligence is composed of various specific and interrelated functions and
elements that can be individually measured.
This theory differed greatly from the Binet scale which, in Wechsler’s day, was
generally considered the supreme authority wit regard to intelligence deal of testing. A
drastically revised new version of Binet Scale, released in 1937, received a great criticism
from David Wechsler (After whom the original Wechsler Bellevue Intelligence Scale and
modern Wechsler Adult intelligence Scale IV are named)
• Wechsler was a very influential advocate for the concept of non-intellective factors, and
he felt that the 1937 Binet scale did not do a good job of incorporating these factors into
the scale (non-intellective factors are variables that contribute to the overall scores in lack
of confidence, fear of failure, attitude etc.)
• Wechsler did not agree with the idea of a single score that the Binet test gave.
• Wechsler argued that the Binet scale items were not valid for adult test-takers because the
items were chosen specifically for use with children.

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• The Binet scale emphasis on speed, with timed tasks scattered throughout the scale, tended
to unduly handicap older adults.
• Wechsler believed that ‘mental age norms clearly did not apply to adults’
• Wechsler criticized then existing Binet scale because “It did not consider that intellectual
performance could deteriorate as a person grew older”
These may criticize of the 1937 Binet test gave rise to the Wechsler-Bellevue scale that
was released in 1939. While this scale has been revised many times (resulting in the
present-day WAIS-IV), many of the original concepts and the performance-scale concept.
Description
The Wechsler intelligence tests, which include the WAIS, the WISC, and the
WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of intelligence), are the most widely used
intelligence assessment and among the widely used neuropsychological assessments.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is an intelligence test designed to
measure cognitive ability in adults and older adolescents. The original WAIS (Form I) was
published in February 1955 by David Wechsler, as a revision of the Wechsler-Bellevue
Intelligence Scale, released in 1939. It is currently in its forth edition (WAIS-IV) released
in 2008 by person and is the most widely used IQ test, for both adults and older adolescents
in the world.
Wechsler published the first version of the WAIS in 1939, initially called the
Wechsler-Bellevue. The newest version is the WAIS-III (The third edition, most recently
updated in 1997). Since Wechsler’s death in 1981, the Wechsler tests have been revised by
the publisher, the Psychological Corporation.
The theoretical basis for the WAIS and the other Wechsler scales came from Wechsler’s
belief that intelligence is a complex ability involving a variety of skills. Because
intelligence is multifaceted, Wechsler believed, a test measuring intelligence must reflect
this multitude of skills.
After dividing intelligence into two major types of skills _verbal and performance
Wechsler utilized the statistical technique of factor analysis to determine specific skills
within these two major domains. These more specific factors formed the basis of the
Wechsler sub tests.

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 The Sub-Test of WAIS-R

Verbal Scale

1. Information
29 items on a variety of information adults have presumably had opportunity to acquire in
our culture. No specialized or academic information included, however, some of the items
cover quite sophisticated information.
2. Comprehension
16 items that require examine to explain what should be done in certain circumstances, the
meaning of proverbs, why certain societal practices are followed, and so forth. The test
measures practical judgement, common sense and the ability to understand and adapt to
social customs. Score on each item varies (0-Pts) according to the degree to which the
respond describes the most pertinent aspects of the questions.
3. Arithmetic
14 arithmetic problems similar to those encountered in elementary math courses. Problems
are administered orally and must be solved without paper and pencil. In addition to math
knowledge, test measure concentration and systematic problem-solving ability.
4. Similarity
14 items requiring examinee to describe how two given things are like. Score on each item
varies according to the degree to which the response describes a general property primarily
pertinent to both items in the pair. Measures concrete, functional and abstract concept
formation.
5. Digit Span
Two parts, digits forward and digits backward. Examinee require to repeat 3-9 digits
forward and 2-9 digits backward, measure short term memory, attention and concentration.
6. Vocabulary
35 words of increasingly difficulty are presented orally and visually. Examinee required
defining the words. Scores (0-2) based on sophistication of definition. Measures verbal
knowledge and concept formation.

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 Performance Scales

1. Digit Symbol
Numbers 1-9 are paired with symbols on a key presented to examinee. Examinee has 90
seconds to go through a grid of 93 numbers and place the correct the symbol above each
number. It measures visual-motor speed and complexity, motor coordination. There are
two additional, optional extension of the coding test that measure the examinees skills in
learning the coding process after completing the initial task.
2. Picture Completion
20 cards, each containing a picture having a part missing. Examinee must identify the
missing part. Measures ability to observe details and recognize specific features of the
environment (i.e. whole to part discrimination). Also measure performance in deliberately
focusing attention.
3. Block Design
Perhaps the butt of more jokes than any other WAIS scale! Included in the test are nine red
and white square blocks and a spiral booklet of cards showing different color designs that
can be made with the blocks. The examinee must arrange the blocks to match the design
formed by examiner shown on cards. In addition to being scored for accuracy, each item is
scored for speed as well. Measured spatial problems solving and manipulative abilities,
and part to whole organization.
4. Picture Arrangement
Ten items contain and each item consists of 3 to 6 cards containing pictures. The examinee
must arrange the picture from left to right to tell the intended story. Again, both accuracy
and speed are scored. Partial credit is given for alternate, but less commonly given
arrangement to some items. Measures non-verbal reasoning and sequencing skills, and
grasp of social cause and effect (also known as social intelligence).
5. Object Assembly
Four items, each item being a “cut up” object, like a puzzle. Examinee must correctly
assemble the parts of the puzzle measures visual-motor problem solving and organizational
abilities and visual anticipation skills.

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 Version of WAIS
• WAIS (1955)
• WAIS-R (1981)
• WAIS-III (1997)
• WAIS-IV (2008)

Interpretation of WAIS

Bio Data

Name FZ

Age 21 years

Gender Female

Education BS Applied Psychology

Marital Status Single

No of Sibling 5

Order of birth 5th

Informant Subject Herself

Reason for Referral

The examiner called the subject for the purpose of Psychological assessment “Wechsler

Adult Intelligence Scale”

Background Information

Family History

Subject's family is composed of 7 members. She belongs to average status of

family. Subject father was 60 years old. His qualification was intermediate. He was a
retired manager. The subject had healthy relations with her father. The subject mother was

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50 years old. she was a house wife and her qualification was matric. The 1st born brother
was 35 years old. He was do work in out of country. The 2nd born brother was age was 32.
He does work in Lahore. The 3rd born brother age was 30. He was software engineer. The
4th born brother age 28. He did work in Lahore. The 5th born was subject herself. The
subject had healthy relations with her siblings.

Personal History
The subject birth was normal. All milestone was achieved at normal age. The subject was
stared schooling at the age of 4 years. She was an average student. She likes creativity and
music. She does not make friends immediately and no more talkative but She has social
interactions with others. She has much interest in history. She also liked to different
historical places. The subject had healthy relations with her friends. Her hobbies were
watching tv, cooking.
Behavioral Observation

The subject was neatly dressed up. She was sitting on the chair comfortably. Her expression
seems like to be curious before the test. During the test her expressions were confusing.
She showed cooperative attitude throughout the test.

Test Administration

The entire scale WAIS-R (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised) was administered
in a single session. The eleven tests require from 60-90 minutes for administration. The
subject was seated comfortably. The subject was provided with a convenient working
atmosphere. She was asked to tell her name, age, sex, marital status and order of birth.
Firstly, the verbal test was administered following the instruction describe in the manual.
Then performance test administered in the same way. During administration time was
noted. The prescribed sequence was followed while administrating the tests.

Scoring

After administrating all the verbal and performance tests, each test was scored according
to the scoring procedure described in the manual. Each item is scored and obtained the raw
score. Though the raw scores, the scaled score were obtained by using equivalents. Then
the scaled scores of each verbal and performance test was added to obtained verbal as well

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as performance score. Then both verbal and performance test were added to obtain full
scale score. Finally obtain the verbal, performance and scale scores obtain from the table
in the manual.

Test Results

Quantitative Analysis

Test Description Scaled Score IQ

Verbal Score 59 99

Performance Score 47 92

Full Score 106 97

Qualitative Analysis

The Verbal IQ

The verbal IQ is derived from score on seven of the subsets; information, digit span,
vocabulary, Arithmetic, comprehension, similarities and letter-number sequencing.
The letter-number sequencing is new sub-test added to the most recent edition of WAIS.
The subject has a raw score of 25 in information subtest with the scale score of 13 which
shows that the subject has average knowledge about geography and literature. In digit
span the subject has raw score 14 with a scaled score 9 that indicate the measures short-
term memory, attention and concentration. In vocabulary subtest the raw score 41 with
the scaled score of 9 indicate the person vocabulary, verbal knowledge and concept
formation. The arithmetic ability shows the math knowledge, test measure
concentration and the systematic problem-solving ability on which the subject has a raw
score 12 with the scale score 10. In comprehension the subject has raw score 15 with

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 the scaled score 7 that showed her practical judgement, common sense and the ability
to understand and adapt to social customs. In similarities subtest the subject has raw
score 22 with the scaled score 11 that shows the subject’s ability to concrete, functional
and abstract concept formation. In verbal tests the subject has the scaled score of 59 with
the IQ of 99 which fall under the category of above average
.
Performance Score

The performance test consists of seven subtests through which the remaining scores are
derived. The first subtest was picture completion the subject has raw score of 17 with the
scaled score 11 that shows the ability of visual-motor speed, complexity and motor
coordination. In picture arrangement the raw score was 12 while the scaled score 8 which
indicated the ability to observe details and recognize specific features of the environment
(i.e. whole to part discrimination). The block design the subject has raw score of 27 with
the scaled score of 8 that measures the spatial problem solving and manipulative abilities
and part to whole organization. Object assembly in which the subject has raw score of 31
with the scaled score 9 that show the subject ability to visual-motor problem solving and
organizational abilities and visual anticipation skills. In digit symbol the subject has raw
score 66 with scaled score of 11 which measures the visual-motor speed & complexity
and motor coordination. In performance tests the subject has the scaled score of 47 with
the IQ 92 which lie under the category of average performance.

Full Scale Score

The subject has a full scaled score of 106 after summing the scaled scores of verbal and
performance test. After summing the IQ scores of verbal and performance test we get IQ
score of full scale is 97 which is above the category of average performance.

Conclusion
The subject has IQ of 97 which is above the category of average performance so the
subject have some special intellectual ability.

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Reference

Wechsler, D. (1981). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revision Manual. The

Psychological Corporation. New York