Wechsler Test Wechsler Processing Speed Index 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the supplemental Processing Speed subtest available on the WAIS-IV?
- Cancellation (Correct answer)
- Picture Completion
- Letter-Number Sequencing
- Comprehension
Correct answer: Cancellation
Cancellation is the supplemental PSI subtest on the WAIS-IV.
Question 2: Why are PSI subtests strictly timed?
- To reduce examiner workload
- Because speed of performance is the construct being measured (Correct answer)
- To match verbal subtest length
- To prevent guessing
Correct answer: Because speed of performance is the construct being measured
Timing is essential because the index measures the rate of processing itself.
Question 3: How might a physical motor impairment affect a PSI score?
- It improves the score
- It can lower the score independent of actual cognitive speed (Correct answer)
- It has no effect
- It only affects verbal indexes
Correct answer: It can lower the score independent of actual cognitive speed
Motor difficulties can depress PSI scores even when mental processing is intact, complicating interpretation.
Question 4: On the WISC-V, the Processing Speed Index is composed of which subtests?
- Coding and Symbol Search (Correct answer)
- Vocabulary and Comprehension
- Block Design and Visual Puzzles
- Digit Span and Picture Span
Correct answer: Coding and Symbol Search
Like the WAIS-IV, the WISC-V PSI uses Coding and Symbol Search.
Question 5: A practice effect on PSI subtests upon retesting usually means the score will do what?
- Decrease sharply
- Increase somewhat due to familiarity (Correct answer)
- Stay exactly identical
- Become invalid permanently
Correct answer: Increase somewhat due to familiarity
Familiarity with the format often produces a modest score increase on retesting.
Question 6: Which best describes the type of stimuli used in PSI subtests?
- Complex paragraphs of text
- Simple, repetitive visual symbols (Correct answer)
- Three-dimensional rotating figures
- Audio tones
Correct answer: Simple, repetitive visual symbols
PSI tasks use simple, repetitive visual symbols to isolate speed rather than reasoning.
Question 7: What scaled-score mean and standard deviation do individual PSI subtests use?
- Mean 100, SD 15
- Mean 10, SD 3 (Correct answer)
- Mean 50, SD 10
- Mean 0, SD 1
Correct answer: Mean 10, SD 3
Wechsler subtest scaled scores have a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3.
Wechsler Test Wechsler Processing Speed Index 3
What is the supplemental Processing Speed subtest available on the WAIS-IV?