The effect of grade level on WISC-R IQs of 6 year olds.

Abstract

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children -Revised is one of the most popular intelligence tests for children. In many instances, the results from the WISC-R may play a critical role in the education of children. Thus, because of the influence that such an assessment may have on a child, the use of that instrument must be as accurate as possible. One method that was utilized to insure accurate results from the WISC-R was the standardization method used to norm the test. In the standardization procedure, Wechsler, in an attempt to make the norming group as representative as possible, included six demographic variables several of which were held proportionate to the 1970 census. The six variables used were age, gender, race, geographic region, occupation of head of household, and urban-rural residents. Although Wechsler utilized the given variables to obtain a representative norming group, one important variable, grade level, was excluded from the standardization procedure. Previous research has suggested that one's level of education does in fact have an effect on his or her IQ. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of grade level on IQ and to assess the need of grade level as a variable for standardization of the instrument. In the current study, forty 6 year old children were assessed with the WISC-R. The sample consisted of 20 males and 20 females, half of whom were in kindergarten, while the other half was in the first grade at the time of testing. All assessments were made within a one month period. Results found a significant difference between grade level on the Full Scale and Performance IQs. There was also significance between males and females on the Full Scale and Verbal IQs. The results of the study indicated that grade level does have an effect on IQ scores and should be considered for a standardization variable.