OHIO - more info please

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Please help. I’ve been looking for this info for months.
In an answer to a previous poster, you said that, according to the WISC protocols, if there was a gap of more than 15 points between the verbal and the performance scores, the full scale score wasn’t reliable. Here’s my question - in the WISC protocols, does it say anything about sub-test scatter. Is the full scale IQ unreliable if there is too much scatter. What do the WISC protocols say is too much scatter? (My son’s verbal and
performance scores were about the same, but there were 7 points of scatter in the verbal scale and 12 points of scatter in the performance scale. The psych just averaged everything. Is this what the protocols say to do? Could you possibly quote the protocols? (If that’s allowed) Thank you so much.

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/25/2002 - 2:44 PM

Permalink

Try looking at http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/low_scores.htm
This whole site is quite technical, but has a lot of information.

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/25/2002 - 2:44 PM

Permalink

Try looking at http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/low_scores.htm
This whole site is quite technical, but has a lot of information.

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/25/2002 - 3:46 PM

Permalink

To find out if the subtest scatter score is significatnt you have to add up all the scores under one side (eighter verbal or nonverbal) then devide by the total number of scores, this will give you the mean (or the average) then you need to see if any of the scores are more then 3 points away from the mean (or average) then you have subtest scatter, and that means the resulting IQ score may not be a valid indicator of the childs true ability.

I do not have the protocals, even If I did, I dont think I could post them here. You do have the right to go to your school psychologist and read the protocals of any test given to child.

I can reccommend a very good book, it is called “the complete guide to 109 diagnostic tests” pages 32 to 47 are all on the wisc, it explains both intratest scatter and intertest scatter, It also talks about verbal/preformance scatter and vocabulary/simularities scatter, then their are several pages of profiles or patterns where it gives you the scores of ficticious children and interperts the patterns, it also points out both the strentghs and the weaknesses of the test as a tool. (phychologists and test makers are required by law to “disseminate” information regarding the weakness and pitfalls of using spicific instruments).
I highly reccomend you get it from your public library, If your library doesnt have it, ask the reference desk to obtain it though inter-library loan for you.

hope this is helpfull.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 02/27/2002 - 12:46 AM

Permalink

I also found a couple of very expensive texts written in the mid-late 90’s by Kaufman. They are expensive and strictly deal with the WISC. A public library may not have them, but a university library may.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/28/2002 - 12:50 AM

Permalink

Thanks to all for the help, but I don’t need help interpreting the scores.
Anitya, you are right the Kauffman book was excellent and really helped pinpoint the problem. A text by Sattler was also helpful in understanding what the problem is. I’ve read dozens of books. Unfortunately the school’s interpretation is not the same as the books. I’ve had two psychologists tell me that their interpretation in outrageous, but there’s nothing I can do. The law says that the school must follow test instructions. I’m convinced that they didn’t do that, but to prove that, I need to get someone to show me a copy of the instructions on interpreting scores. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Back to Top