Chapter 32. Wechsler Intelligence Tasks

Learning Objectives

intelligence

mental capacity to learn from experience and adapt effectively to a particular environment

intelligence quotient (IQ)

a numerical score used as a measure of general intelligence, with the average score set at 100

intelligence test

way of measuring mental abilities; typically produces a numerical score that allows comparison with other people

verbal ability

form of intelligence involving comprehension and memory of words and sentences

performance (nonverbal) ability

form of intelligence involving comprehension and reasoning about pictures and geometric shapes

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

an individual intelligence test developed by David Wechsler; provides separate scores for verbal intelligence and nonverbal (“performance”) intelligence

Wechsler Intelligence Tasks

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Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Copyright © 2008 NCS Pearson, Inc. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. “Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale” and “WAIS” are trademarks, in the US and/or other countries, of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates(s). Reproduced with permission.

Learning Objectives:

Name each of the tasks used on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

Describe each of the tasks used on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

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1. In the mid-1900s, psychologist David Wechsler developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), which is now the most widely used individual intelligence test.

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2. In designing this test, Wechsler made an important distinction between verbal ability and performance (nonverbal) ability, and devised separate tasks to measure each type of ability. Scores on these individual tasks were then combined to produce an overall IQ score.

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Information	Answer general-knowledge questions
Similarities	Explain analogies
Arithmetic	Solve math problems
Vocabulary	Define words
Comprehension	Explain common proverbs or situations
Digit Span	Repeat a list of numbers

3. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) contains six verbal subtests. These tasks measure a person’s ability to understand and remember words and numbers, and to solve problems involving words.

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Picture Completion	Identify the missing part of a picture
Picture Arrangement	Organize pictures to tell a story
Block Design	Arrange blocks to match a design
Object Assembly	Arrange puzzle pieces in a picture
Digit Symbol	Use a code to translate symbols

4. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) contains five performance (nonverbal) subtests. These tasks measure a person’s ability to understand and remember visual information, and to solve problems involving pictures and objects.

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Information	Answer general-knowledge questions
Similarities	Explain analogies
Arithmetic	Solve math problems
Vocabulary	Define words
Comprehension	Explain common proverbs or situations
Digit Span	Repeat a list of numbers

Picture Completion	Identify the missing part of a picture
Picture Arrangement	Organize pictures to tell a story
Block Design	Arrange blocks to match a design
Object Assembly	Arrange puzzle pieces in a picture
Digit Symbol	Use a code to translate symbols

5. On the next pages, you will try your hand at sample questions and tasks similar to the items on each of the 11 Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) subtests. Don't worry too much about how well you do on these questions. This small sample of items would not be considered a valid test of your intelligence, so you won't even receive a score at the end!

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6. In the complete Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), each subtest contains a large series of items arranged in order of increasing difficulty. We'll provide one sample for each subtest, adapted for computer presentation. Please note that none of these sample items is actually used on the WAIS.

Practice 1: Verbal Subtests

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Practice 1: Verbal Subtests

Answer the question. Correct answers turn green; incorrect answers turn red. Then, select the “New subtest” button.

Verbal Subtest 1: Information subtest measures your general knowledge (stored information) about the world.

Question

Which of the capital of Russia?

Verbal Subtest 2: Similarities subtest measures your abstract or conceptual thinking through the use of analogies.

Question

How is a bird like an airplane?

Verbal Subtest 3: Arithmetic subtest contains verbal math problems similar to this item.

Question

If a train travels 60 miles per hour, how long will it take to travel 180 miles?

Verbal Subtest 4: The Vocabulary subtest measures your understanding of word meanings.

Question

What's the meaning of the word "tower"?

Verbal Subtest 5: The Comprehension subtest contains verbal reasoning problems measuring your understanding of appropriate social behavior.

Question

Why do most highways have speed limits?

Verbal Subtest 6: The Digit Span subtest measures your attention and memory for individual numbers (presented orally on the actual WAIS).

Instruction

We will test your Digit Span (immediate memory) for 5 numbers, then 6 numbers, and then 7 numbers. When you select the “Begin” button, the set of numbers will be presented one at a time. After all the numbers have been presented, type the numbers in the exact order in which they appeared. Then select the “Finished” button to see how well you did. When you have completed all three set of numbers, you will be able to move to the next subtest.

Type the numbers you saw:

Your answer:	Correct answer:

You recalled 0 numbers in the correct positions	That is 0 percent correct with 0 numbers

Practice 2: Performance Subtests

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Practice 2: Performance Subtests

Follow the instructions at the top of the screen. When the subtest is finished, select the “New subtest” button.

Performance Subtest 1: The Picture Completion subtest measures your visual alertness and visual memory.

Study this picture and try to discover what important part is missing in the picture. Type your answer into the response box and select the "Finished" button to check your answer.

The image is a standard clock with the numbers for the hours identified, except for the number 7. The time on the clock is indicated by the hour, minute, and second hands at 5:04 — Sergey Melnikov/Shutterstock

This clock is missing the number 7.

Performance Subtest 2: The Picture Arrangement subtest is a nonverbal method of measuring your understanding of social situations and sequential events.

These pictures tell a story. Study the pictures until you understand the story, then drag the pictures into the correct order to match the story. Pictures dragged to incorrect locations will snap back.

Illustration of person on knees, pulling up newly grown carrot

Illustration of person on knees, sprinkling water on young plant

illustration of person on knees, sprinkling seeds dug-up dirt

Illustration of person on knees, digging up dirt in garden

Performance Subtest 3: The Block Design subtest measures your ability to perceive and analyze visual patterns.

On the left side of the screen is 6 rows of 4 blocks in each. The first row has all white blocks. The second row has all red blocks. The third row has blocks that have been divided into two triangles with a line going from upper left to lower right. The left triangle is white, the right triangle is red. The fourth row has blocks that have been divided into two triangles with a line going from upper right to lower left. The left triangle is red, the right triangle is white. The fifth row has blocks that have been divided into two triangles with a line going from upper right to lower left. The left triangle is white, the right triangle is red. The sixth row has blocks that have been divided into two triangles with a line going from upper left to lower right. The left triangle is red, the right triangle is white. In the middle of the screen is a three by three block area. To the right of this is the pattern to be replicated, which is a red hourglass shape with white around it. In order to create this pattern, the following blocks would need to be arranged three in each row, from top to bottom.

The pattern at right can be formed from some combination of the blocks at the left. Select the appropriate blocks and drag them to the correct locations in the center square to from the pattern.

The pattern is a red hourglass shape with white around it and contains 3 rows of 3 blocks in each. Row 1 - a block with line from upper left to lower right forming a red triangle on the right; a red block; and a block with line from upper right to lower left forming a red triangle on the left. Row 2 - a white block, a red block, and a white block. Row 3 - a block with line from upper right to lower left forming a red triangle on the right; a red block; and a block with line from upper left to lower right forming a red triangle on the left.

white filled square

red filled square

top right corner filled red

top left corner filled red

bottom left corner filled red

bottom right corner filled red

Performance Subtest 4: The Object Assembly subtest measures your ability to deal with part/whole relationships.

This is a familiar object that has been cut into pieces. The piece marked with a red X is stationary. Drag the other pieces to their proper locations to reassemble the object.

hind legs

neck and back

head

upper part of a tail

lower part of a tail

space between legs

saddle

Performance Subtest 5: The Digit Symbol subtest measures the speed with which you learn an unfamiliar code that associates each number with a non-numeric symbol.

Your task is to type the correct number into the box below each symbol. Select the "Finished" button to check your answer. To start the timer and begin the task, select the "Display code symbols" button.

Timer: 1000

Code symbols	∞	∅	fi	Δ	≈
Code numbers	1	2	3	4	5

Test symbols	fi	Δ	∞	∅	≈	∞	Δ	≈	∅	Δ	∞	fi	≈	∅
Test numbers
Correct numbers	3	4	1	2	5	1	4	5	2	4	1	3	5	2

Quiz 1

matching_test

Quiz 1

Match the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) verbal subtests to their descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.

Perhaps you should go back to review verbal subtests within the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

Information

Similarities

Arithmetic

Vocabulary

Comprehension

Digit span

measures abstract or conceptual thinking through the use of analogies

measures understanding of word meanings

measures general knowledge about the world

measures attention and memory for a series of numbers

measures verbal reasoning and understanding of appropriate behavior

measures computational ability through the use of verbal math problems

Quiz 2

matching_test

Quiz 2

Match the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) performance subtests to their descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.

Perhaps you should go back to review performance subtests within the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).

Picture completion

Picture arrangement

Block design

Object assembly

Digit symbol

measures understanding of social situations and sequential events

measures visual alertness and visual memory

measures speed of learning and using an unfamiliar code

measures ability to perceive and analyze visual patterns

measures ability to perceive part/whole relationships

Conclusion

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Congratulations!

You have completed
Wechsler Intelligence Tasks.