The performance of children with intellectual giftedness and intellectual disability on the WPPSI-IV^A&NZ

ABSTRACT

Objective

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition Australian and New Zealand Standardised Edition (WPPSI-IV^A&NZ) is one of the most widely used intelligence assessments for children aged 2 years 6 months to 7 years 7 months. Given the impact of clinical and placement decisions that are supported by WPPSI-IV^A&NZ results, it is important to provide evidence of criterion-related validity. Criterion-related validity refers to the degree to which test scores are associated with an external criterion (e.g., pre-existing diagnosis or classification).

Method

Two studies of children with intellectual giftedness (n = 19) and intellectual disability (n = 15) were conducted to determine if the constructs measured by the WPPSI-IV^A&NZ perform as expected in criterion groups with known characteristics.

Results

Independent sample t-tests revealed mean composite scores for intellectually gifted children were significantly higher than matched controls, with the exception of the Processing Speed Index and Cognitive Proficiency Index. Children with intellectual disability on average obtained significantly lower mean scores on all composites relative to matched controls.

Conclusion

Results indicated that the WPPSI-IV^A&NZ can provide valid estimates of intellectual ability for children with intellectual giftedness and intellectual disability that align with their previous diagnosis or classification.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• cognitive ability
• intellectual disability
• intellectual giftedness
• WPPSI-IV

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants who took part in the research and the examiners who assisted with data collection.

Disclosure statement

All authors are employed by Pearson Clinical Assessment who are the test publishers of the WPPSI-IV^A&NZ.

Ethical standards

The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded in full by Pearson.