Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

  • Wechsler, D. (1949). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Wechsler, D. (1972). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—4th Edition (WISC-IV®). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
The WISC IV is available for purchase online. See also the WPPSI and the WAIS.


 Table of Contents

Description

History of Use

References

Description:

Purpose
The WISC was designed to assess intelligence in children and adolescents (aged 6 - 16). For measures for use on different age groups, see the WPPSI and the WAIS.
Questions
15 tests assessing different abilities using different numbers of questions and different response formats.
Sub-scales
4 sub-scales:
  • Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)
    • Information
    • Comprehension
    • Similarities
    • Vocabulary
    • Word Reasoning
  • Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI)
    • Block Design
    • Matrix Reasoning
    • Picture Completion
    • Picture Concepts
  • Working Memory Index (WMI)
    • Digit Span
    • Arithmetic
    • Letter-Number Sequencing
  • Processing Speed Index (PSI)
    • Symbol Search
    • Coding
    • Cancellation
Domain
  • Clinical assessment
  • School placement
Psychometrics

Sample items
  • What must you do to make water boil? (VCI - Information)
  • P is shown an array of pictures with a missing square and asked to choose the picture that fits the array. (PRI - Matrix Reasoning)
  • P is orally given a sequence of numbers and asked to repeat them. (WMI - Digit Span)
  • P is given rows of symbols and target symbols and asked to mark whether the target symbols appear in each row. (PSI - Symbol Search)

References:

Scale:
  • Wechsler, D. (1949). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Wechsler, D. (1972). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. New York: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—4th Edition (WISC-IV®). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.