Wechsler Ethical and Cultural Considerations Flashcards

A psychologist publishes Wechsler case results in a paper. To protect the client, they must:

Answer: De-identify the data and obtain consent where appropriate

Confidentiality requires de-identifying client information and obtaining consent before any publication.

Why is examiner training and competence specifically emphasized for Wechsler administration?

Answer: Standardized procedures must be followed precisely for valid scores

Strict adherence to standardized procedures by a trained examiner is necessary to obtain valid and reliable scores.

Interpreting a single low Wechsler subtest as proof of a disorder is ethically risky because:

Answer: Diagnosis should rest on multiple sources of evidence, not one score

Sound diagnosis integrates multiple data sources rather than relying on a single subtest score.

When testing an older adult with the WAIS-IV, an ethical examiner considers:

Answer: Sensory, motor, and fatigue factors that may affect performance

Age-related sensory, motor, and fatigue factors should be considered to fairly interpret an older adult's performance.

A bilingual examinee performs much higher on nonverbal than verbal Wechsler indices. The most ethical interpretation is that:

Answer: Language background may explain the verbal-nonverbal gap

A verbal-nonverbal gap in bilingual examinees often reflects language factors rather than true ability differences.

Ethically, feedback after Wechsler testing should generally be:

Answer: Provided to the client or appropriate parties unless contraindicated

Examinees are generally entitled to understandable feedback about their results unless there is a specific contraindication.

Using the Wechsler scales to make decisions about culturally diverse populations requires examiners to:

Answer: Be aware of fairness, bias, and limitations of the instrument

Responsible use demands awareness of potential bias and the instrument's limitations across diverse groups.