WPPSI - Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Processing Speed Subtests Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following subtests are the two primary measures used to derive the Processing Speed Index (PSI) for children in the 4:0-7:7 age band of the WPPSI-IV?
- Bug Search and Animal Coding
- Cancellation and Symbol Search
- Bug Search and Cancellation (Correct answer)
- Animal Coding and Coding
Correct answer: Bug Search and Cancellation
For the older age band (4:0-7:7) on the WPPSI-IV, the Processing Speed Index is primarily composed of the Bug Search and Cancellation subtests. Animal Coding is also a processing speed subtest but is supplemental, not primary.
Question 2: A 5-year-old child is administered the Bug Search subtest. The task requires the child to scan a search group of bugs and mark the one that matches the target bug. This task primarily assesses which cognitive ability?
- Fluid Reasoning
- Visual-motor coordination and speed of visual search (Correct answer)
- Working Memory
- Verbal Comprehension
Correct answer: Visual-motor coordination and speed of visual search
The Bug Search subtest is designed to measure a child's speed and accuracy of visual identification, decision-making, and implementation. It specifically assesses skills like visual scanning, discrimination, and visuomotor coordination under timed conditions.
Question 3: The Processing Speed subtests on the WPPSI-IV, such as Bug Search and Animal Coding, were designed to be more developmentally appropriate for young children than previous versions. A key adaptation is the use of:
- Abstract symbols to challenge reasoning
- A pencil and paper for fine motor practice
- Complex verbal instructions
- An ink dauber and engaging, colorful stimuli (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An ink dauber and engaging, colorful stimuli
The WPPSI-IV Processing Speed subtests were intentionally made more 'game-like' and child-friendly. This includes using an ink dauber, which reduces fine motor demands, and employing engaging, familiar images like bugs and animals instead of abstract symbols.
Question 4: An examiner is testing a 6-year-old and administers the Cancellation subtest. In this subtest, the child is presented with a page of pictures and asked to mark specific target images. What is a key feature of the Cancellation subtest's design?
- It only uses a random arrangement of objects to assess scanning ability.
- It includes both a random and a structured arrangement of objects. (Correct answer)
- The child must name each object before marking it.
- It is an untimed task focused solely on accuracy.
Correct answer: It includes both a random and a structured arrangement of objects.
The Cancellation subtest on the WPPSI-IV distinctively includes two items: one with a random arrangement of objects and one with a structured arrangement. This allows the examiner to gather information about how the child's performance may differ based on the visual organization of the task.
Question 5: The Processing Speed Index (PSI) is available for which age band of the WPPSI-IV?
- Ages 2:6 - 3:11 only
- Both age bands (2:6 - 7:7)
- Ages 4:0 - 7:7 only (Correct answer)
- It is an optional index for all ages
Correct answer: Ages 4:0 - 7:7 only
The Processing Speed Index (PSI) and its corresponding subtests are specifically designed for and administered to the older age band of the WPPSI-IV, which is children aged 4 years, 0 months to 7 years, 7 months.
Question 6: A child obtains a low score on the Animal Coding subtest. This performance might suggest difficulties in which of the following areas?
- Long-term memory and acquired knowledge
- Abstract, nonverbal reasoning
- Short-term visual memory, visual-motor coordination, and learning new associations (Correct answer)
- Receptive vocabulary and language comprehension
Correct answer: Short-term visual memory, visual-motor coordination, and learning new associations
Animal Coding is an adaptation of the traditional Coding subtest. It requires the child to learn and remember pairings between animals and shapes and then draw the shapes accordingly. A low score can indicate issues with associative learning, short-term visual memory, visual-motor coordination, and processing speed.
Which of the following subtests are the two primary measures used to derive the Processing Speed Index (PSI) for children in the 4:0-7:7 age band of the WPPSI-IV?