Processing Speed Index (PSI) Flashcards
7 cards from real WAIS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Processing Speed Index (PSI) flashcards as text
In WAIS-IV scoring, what happens to the PSI if an examinee completes a supplemental subtest (e.g., Cancellation) but not both core subtests?
Answer: The PSI cannot be computed without both core subtests completed
Both core subtests (Coding and Symbol Search) must be completed to derive a valid PSI; Cancellation is supplemental and cannot substitute.
Research comparing PSI performance across cultures suggests that which factor MOST accounts for cross-cultural differences?
Answer: Familiarity with pencil-and-paper timed tasks and test-taking culture
Exposure to timed paper-based tasks and test-taking familiarity significantly influences PSI performance across cultural groups.
Which index on the WAIS-IV is computed WITHOUT including PSI subtests, making it useful when processing speed is confounded?
Answer: General Ability Index (GAI)
The General Ability Index is derived from VCI and PRI subtests only, excluding processing speed and working memory.
An examinee who scores in the Superior range on VCI and PRI but Low Average on PSI would BEST be described as having:
Answer: A specific processing speed weakness relative to intact higher-order cognition
This profile reflects a specific relative weakness in processing speed while higher-order reasoning abilities remain strong.
Which medication class is MOST known to artificially improve PSI scores by increasing alertness and motor speed in individuals with ADHD?
Answer: Stimulant medications (e.g., methylphenidate)
Stimulant medications can increase arousal and motor speed, potentially elevating PSI performance in individuals with ADHD.
Why is the PSI considered a particularly useful index for detecting the early cognitive effects of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Answer: MS causes demyelination that directly slows neural transmission speed
MS attacks myelin sheaths, slowing neural conduction and producing measurable decrements in processing speed early in the disease course.
If an examiner inadvertently gives extra time on the Coding subtest, which psychometric principle is MOST violated?
Answer: Standardized administration required for normative comparison
WAIS norms are based on strictly timed administration; deviating from standardized procedures invalidates comparison to the normative sample.