WAIS Applications 5

Question 1

A rehabilitation psychologist uses WAIS-IV scores to guide cognitive rehabilitation for a patient with multiple sclerosis.
Which index would MOST directly inform recommendations for compensatory memory strategies?

Accepted Answer

Working Memory Index

Answer

Verbal Comprehension Index

Answer

Perceptual Reasoning Index

Answer

Processing Speed Index

Question 2

An industrial-organizational psychologist uses cognitive assessment for personnel selection. Which WAIS-IV composite BEST predicts performance across a wide range of occupations according to the research literature?

Accepted Answer

Full Scale IQ

Answer

Processing Speed Index

Answer

Perceptual Reasoning Index

Answer

Verbal Comprehension Index

Question 3

When comparing a client's WAIS-IV scores to their scores from a WAIS-III administered 10 years earlier, a clinician must account for the Flynn Effect. This means:

Accepted Answer

Older norms produce inflated scores compared to more recent norms

Answer

IQ scores decrease over time so earlier scores are always higher

Answer

The WAIS-III is no longer valid and scores cannot be compared

Answer

Processing Speed declines faster than other abilities between test versions

Question 4

A clinician administers a short form of the WAIS-IV to save time. Which statement BEST describes the tradeoff of using abbreviated batteries?

Accepted Answer

Short forms reduce reliability and validity compared to the full battery, limiting diagnostic conclusions

Answer

Short forms are always preferred because they reduce examinee fatigue without loss of validity

Answer

Short forms produce identical reliability to the full battery if the correct subtests are chosen

Answer

Short forms are appropriate for high-stakes forensic or disability determinations

Question 5

A clinician reports that a client's WAIS-IV FSIQ score is at the 63rd percentile. What does this MOST accurately mean?

Accepted Answer

The client scored higher than approximately 63% of same-age peers in the normative sample

Answer

The client answered 63% of questions correctly

Answer

The client's IQ is 63 points above average

Answer

63% of the client's responses were scored as correct

Question 6

Which WAIS-IV subtest is classified as a supplemental Processing Speed measure and is most useful when Coding cannot be administered due to a fine motor impairment?

Accepted Answer

Cancellation

Answer

Symbol Search

Answer

Letter-Number Sequencing

Answer

Visual Puzzles

Question 7

In pediatric to adult transition planning, WAIS-IV results are used to guide supported employment decisions for a 22-year-old with an intellectual disability. The MOST critical supplemental information needed alongside the WAIS-IV scores is:

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive adaptive behavior assessment

Answer

The individual's academic grade level equivalents

Answer

A personality inventory such as the MMPI-2

Answer

Teacher ratings of classroom performance