Because intelligence is multifaceted, Wechsler believed, a test measuring intelligence must reflect this multitude of skills. The theoretical basis for the WAIS and the other Wechlser scales came from Wechsler’s belief that intelligence is a complex ability involving a variety of skills. Since Wechsler’s death in 1981, the Wechsler tests have been revised by the publisher, the Psychological Corporation. The newest version is the WAIS-III (the third edition, most recently updated in 1997). Wechsler published the first version of the WAIS in 1939, initially called the Wechsler-Bellevue. 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 assessments and among the most widely used neuropsychological assessments. WAIS administrators must receive proper training and be aware of all test guidelines. The age range for the WAIS overlaps with that of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC) for people between 16 and 17 years of age, and it is suggested that the WISC provides a better measure for this age range.Īdministration and scoring of the WAIS require an active test administrator who must interact with the test taker and must know test protocol and specifications. Also, when administering the WAIS to people at extreme ends of the age range (below 20 years of age or above 70), caution should be used when interpreting scores. Wechsler himself was even more conservative, stressing that his scales were not appropriate for people with an IQ below 70 or above 130. The nature of the scoring process does not allow for scores outside of this range for test takers at particular ages. The Wechsler intelligence scales are not considered adequate measures of extremely high and low intelligence (IQ scores below 40 and above 160). Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores reported by the WAIS can be used as part of the diagnostic criteria for mental retardation, specific learning disabilities, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The WAIS is also administered for diagnostic purposes. Large differences in verbal and nonverbal intelligence may indicate specific types of brain damage. The WAIS is also administered as part of a test battery to make inferences about personality and pathology, both through the content of specific answers and patterns of subtest scores.īesides being utilized as an intelligence assessment, the WAIS is used in neuropsychological evaluation, specifically with regard to brain dysfunction. 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 intended to measure human intelligence reflected in both verbal and performance abilities. The Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS) is an individually administered measure of intelligence, intended for adults aged 16–89.
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