Perceptual Organization versus Perceptual Reasoning in a Clinic Sample

The Wechlser Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is often used to assess the intellectual functioning of children in school, medical, and clinical settings. In revising its predecessor, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), the Verbal and Performance IQ scores were eliminated. Furthermore, subtests were changed on three of the four WISC-IV indexes. The most considerable revisions were made on the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI). Formerly called the Perceptual Organization Index (POI) consisting of four subtests, the PRI now has three subtests. In addition, two timed subtests were removed and two untimed measures were added. Validity studies with the WISC-III and WISC-IV have revealed inconsistent correlations between the PRI and POI. This investigation will compare the performance of children and adolescents referred to an outpatient clinic for neuropsychological testing on the WISC-III POI and the WISC-IV PRI. Archival data will be used, and will be obtained from the records of outpatients of the neuropsychology clinic who were administered the appropriate test version, WISC III or WISC-IV, at the time of their evaluation. Data will be analyzed using a 2X2 factorial between subjects ANOVA to see if there are gender and/or age differences on the WISC indices.