Matters of Consequence: An Empirical Investigation of the WAIS-III and WAIS-IV and Implications for Addressing the Atkins Intelligence Criterion

    Authors

    G. E. Taub;N. Benson

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Forensic Psychol. Pract.

    Keywords

    Atkins; intelligence; intelligence quotient; expert testimony; Wechsler; Adult Intelligence Scale; CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYSIS; FLYNN; EDITION; SCALE; TESTS; FIT; Criminology & Penology; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    "Which test provides the better measurement of intelligence, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV)?" is an important question to professional psychologists; however, it has become a critical issue in Atkins cases wherein courts are often presented with divergent Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores on the WAIS-III and WAIS-IV. In these instances, courts are required to render a decision stating which test provided the better measure of an inmate's intellectual functioning. This study employed structural equation modeling to empirically determine which instrument; the WAIS-III or the WAIS-IV, provides the better measure of intelligence via the FSIQ score. Consistent with the publisher's representation of intellectual functioning, the results from this study indicate the WAIS-IV provides superior measurement, scoring, and structural models to measure FSIQ when compared to the WAIS-III.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice

    Volume

    13

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    27

    Last Page

    48

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000316058000003

    ISSN

    1522-8932

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