WAIS Core Structure 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)?
- Alfred Binet
- David Wechsler (Correct answer)
- Howard Gardner
- Jean Piaget
Correct answer: David Wechsler
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was developed by the renowned American psychologist David Wechsler. He created this intelligence test to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced assessment of adult intelligence compared to existing tests at the time, which he felt were too focused on verbal abilities.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the WAIS?
- Measure academic achievement
- Assess overall intellectual functioning in adults (Correct answer)
- Diagnose physical health issues
- Provide vocational training
Correct answer: Assess overall intellectual functioning in adults
The primary purpose of the WAIS is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's cognitive abilities and overall intellectual functioning in adults. It yields a Full-Scale IQ score, along with several index scores, to give a detailed profile of an adult's intellectual strengths and weaknesses across various cognitive domains.
Question 3: In which year was the first version of the WAIS introduced?
- 1905
- 1939
- 1955 (Correct answer)
- 1990
Correct answer: 1955
The first version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was introduced in 1955. It was a significant revision and expansion of Wechsler's earlier test, the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale, specifically designed to assess intelligence in adults more effectively with updated norms and subtests.
Question 4: What age group is the WAIS designed to assess?
- 5–16 years
- 16–90 years (Correct answer)
- 18–60 years
- All ages
Correct answer: 16–90 years
The WAIS is specifically designed and standardized for use with adults and older adolescents. It is appropriate for individuals aged 16 through 90 years, making it a widely used and reliable tool for assessing cognitive abilities across a broad adult lifespan in clinical and research settings.
Question 5: Which earlier intelligence test influenced the development of the WAIS?
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
- Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale (Correct answer)
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
- Raven's Progressive Matrices
Correct answer: Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale
The Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale was David Wechsler's earlier intelligence test, first published in 1939. The WAIS, introduced in 1955, was a direct revision and improvement upon this foundational test, incorporating updated norms and subtests to better assess adult intelligence and address limitations of the previous version.
Who developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)?