Introduction
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is one of the most widely used psychological tests for assessing the cognitive abilities of children between the ages of 6 and 16. The WISC has been used to assess intelligence for more than 60 years and is regarded as a reliable and valid measure of intellectual functioning in children (Wechsler, 1949; Wechsler, 1967; Wechsler, 1974; Wechsler, 1991; Wechsler, 2003; Wechsler, 2014). The WISC provides an overall measure of intelligence, as well as separate scores for verbal comprehension, working memory, perceptual reasoning, and processing speed. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the WISC, its development and use, and its implications for the assessment of children’s cognitive abilities.
History and Development
The WISC was first developed by Dr. David Wechsler in 1949, as a revision of the 1937 Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale (Wechsler, 1949). The WISC was designed to improve the accuracy of intelligence testing by providing a more comprehensive measure of cognitive abilities. The WISC was later revised in 1967, 1974, 1991, 2003, and 2014, with the most recent version being the WISC-V (Wechsler, 1967; Wechsler, 1974; Wechsler, 1991; Wechsler, 2003; Wechsler, 2014). The revisions have focused on improving the reliability and validity of the WISC, as well as updating the test to reflect changes in the population of children being assessed.
Components
The WISC is composed of 10 subtests, divided into two main categories: Verbal Comprehension and Performance. The Verbal Comprehension subtests measure the child’s ability to understand and use language. These subtests include Similarities, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Information. The Performance subtests measure the child’s ability to solve nonverbal problems. These subtests include Picture Completion, Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Symbol Search, and Coding. In addition, the WISC includes two supplemental subtests, Arithmetic and Letter-Number Sequencing.
Scoring
The WISC is scored using a number of different methods. The primary score is the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), which is an overall measure of cognitive ability. The FSIQ is calculated by combining the scores from the Verbal Comprehension and Performance subtests. In addition, the WISC produces four separate index scores, which measure specific cognitive abilities. These include Verbal Comprehension, Working Memory, Perceptual Reasoning, and Processing Speed.
Implications
The WISC is an important tool for assessing the cognitive abilities of children. The WISC can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions, including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, the WISC can be used to track a child’s progress over time, allowing for the identification of areas of strength and weakness. Finally, the WISC is used to assess a child’s eligibility for special education programs.
Conclusion
The WISC is a widely used and highly reliable measure of cognitive abilities in children. The WISC provides an overall measure of intelligence, as well as separate scores for Verbal Comprehension, Working Memory, Perceptual Reasoning, and Processing Speed. The WISC can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions, track a child’s progress over time, and assess a child’s eligibility for special education programs.
References
Wechsler, D. (1949). The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. New York, NY: Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (1967). Wechsler intelligence scale for children: Manual of administration and scoring. New York, NY: Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (1974). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (1991). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fourth Edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (2014). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fifth Edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.