Assessing the intellectual functioning of Spanish-speaking adults: Comparison of the EIWA and the WAIS.

Abstract

We point out the significant limitations in adapting the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) to assess the intellectual-cognitive functioning of Spanish-speaking adults, and we seek to familiarize practitioners with the Spanish version of the WAIS, the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler Para Adultos (EIWA). To do the latter, we systematically examined both the EIWA and the WAIS and identified the exact differences between the two tests in regard to administration, content, scoring, and standardization sample characteristics. The most significant difference was found in the conversion of raw scores to scale scores. On several subtests, the equivalent raw score was converted into very different WAIS and EIWA scale scores. Other significant differences were noted in the content of the tests and in the social demographic makeup of the standardization samples. The administration and assignment of scores for both tests were generally found to be similar. On the basis of these findings, we offer specific recommendations for the testing of Spanish-speaking adults and for further research in this neglected area of study. The growing population of linguistic minorities in the United States calls for a closer investigation of the appropriateness of using psychological instruments with these groups (Olmedo, 1981). Accordingly, there is an increasing number of researchers who are evaluating the reliability validity, and utility of Wechsler scales in the assessment of Hispanics, the largest linguistic minority group in this country. A close examination of this research reveals that it almost exclusively addresses the assessment of children. In a recent review of the literature, McShane and Cook (1985) identified more than 70 empirical studies in which the Wechsler scales for children were used and only two studies in which a Wechsler scale for adults was used (

Cognitive-intellectual functioning of Spanish-speaking impaired and nonimpaired elderly: Implications for culturally sensitive assessment.

“…Fourth, with regard to the underestimation bias of the WAIS-R, no evidence of impairment or history of possible impairment was noted among the nonimpaired group from both language groups. Finally, the findings of both types of bias were predicted, given the previous research of Lopez and Romero (1988).…”

“…A close examination of the test suggests that it too may be limited in assessing Spanishspeaking adults. Lopez and Romero (1988) examined the comparability of the EIWA and its English predecessor, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS; Wechsler, 1955). They found that the two tests differ in many important ways, particularly in the conversion of raw scores to scale scores.…”

Diversity and Assessment

“…Linguistic equivalence, also known as transla tional equivalence, is focused on the accuracy of translation of test items. Lopez and Romero (1988), for example, found that although there are many similarities between the English and Spanish versions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), there are important psychometric differences that preclude direct comparison between English WAIS and Spanish WAIS scores. Furthermore, regional differences in word usage make it difficult to create linguistically equivalent personality assessments.…”

Wechsler yetişkinler için zekâ ölçeği gözden geçirilmiş formu (WAIS-R) Türkiye standardizasyonu: ön çalışma

“…Ayrıca WAIS-R'ın İrlanda (James ve Dalton, 1993) ve Kanada'da (Fellers, McInnis, Cappelli, Cragg ve Vaillancourt, 1987) yapılan, ABD dışında İngilizce konuşulan ülkeler için düzenlemelerinin yanısıra farklı dil konuşan yetişkinler için geliştirilmiş formları da vardır. Lopez ve Romero (1988), ölçeğin İspanyolca konuşan yetişkinler için geliştirilmiş formu olan EIWA'yı düzenlemişlerdir.…”