Factor structure of the WAIS-R for an incarcerated population

Abstract

The factor structure of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐Revised (WAIS‐R) for a large sample of incarcerated individuals (N = 234) was investigated. A principal components analysis followed by Varimax rotation identified the familiar Perceptual Organization and Verbal Comprehension factors. Coefficients of congruence between the current factors and those of the WAIS‐R standardization sample indicate a high degree of correspondence. Thus, empirical support was provided for interpretation of WAIS‐R Performance and Verbal IQs in this population.

Stability of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised factor scores across time.

“…, prisoners (Faulstich et al, 1986;Faulstich, McAnulty, Carey, & Gresham, 1987), clients referred for neuropsychological assessment (Atkinson, Cyr, Doxey, & Vigna, 1989;Ryan & Schneider, 1986;Warner, Ernst, & Townes, 1986), learning-disabled adults (Blaha, Mandes, & Swisher, 1987), nonpsychiatric, clinic-referred clients (Geary & Whitworth, 1988), and individuals with low IQ (Atkinson & Cyr, 1988). No attempts were reported to extract the one-factor solution from a clinical sample, but in all cases the two-factor solution was extracted.…”

“…In an effort to determine if results were generalizable across populations, a number of clinical samples have also been studied. These include vocational rehabilitation clients (Ryan, Rosenberg, & DeWolfe, 1984), psychiatric patients (Atkinson & Cyr, 1984; Beck, Horwitz, Seidenberg, Parker, & Frank, 1985), medical psychology patients (Beck, Horwitz, Seidenberg, Parker, & Frank, 1985), prisoners (Faulstich et al, 1986; Faulstich, McAnulty, Carey, & Gresham, 1987), clients referred for neuropsychological assessment (Atkinson, Cyr, Doxey, & Vigna, 1989; Ryan & Schneider, 1986; Warner, Ernst, & Townes, 1986), learning-disabled adults (Blaha, Mandes, & Swisher, 1987), nonpsychiatric, clinic-referred clients (Geary & Whitworth, 1988), and individuals with low IQ (Atkinson & Cyr, 1988). No attempts were reported to extract the one-factor solution from a clinical sample, but in all cases the two-factor solution was extracted.…”

Factor analysis of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised for persons 75 years and older.

“…The continued investigation of WAIS-R factor structures with a variety of samples is an essential step in furthering knowledge of human intelligence. To date, investigators have reported on normal subjects between 16 and 74 years of age (Blaha & Wallbrown, 1982; Gutkin, Reynolds, & Galvin, 1984; Naglieri & Kaufman, 1983; O'Grady, 1983; Parker, 1983; Silverstein, 1982), incarcerated criminals (Faulstich et al, 1986), vocational rehabilitation clients (Fraboni, Saltstone, Baines, & Cooper, 1988; Ryan, Rosenberg, & DeWolfe, 1984), and patients with medical, psychiatric, and/or neurological disorders (Atkinson & Cyr, 1984; Beck, Horwitz, Seidenberg, Parker, & Frank, 1985; Bornstein, Drake, & Pakalnis, 1988; Ryan, Prifitera, & Rosenberg, 1983; Ryan, Rosenberg, & Heilbronner, 1984; Ryan & Schneider, 1986). Unfortunately, there have been no studies of persons 75 years of age or older.…”