In testing the cognitive ability and achievement levels, the Weschler range of tests (WAIS, WISC, WIAT, WPPSI) have long been seen as the industry standard, and are used by psychologists all over the Western world. However, it is not as widely known that there are alternatives to the Weschler tests that offer considerable benefits over the standard tests.
The Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities III (WJ-Cog) and Tests of Achievement (WJ-Ach) replace the full suite of Weschler tests, and have been normed in Australia for use on clients from age 2 to age 90. The versatility of a standard test across the lifespan is both practical and cost-effective. Based on the Cattell-Horn- Carroll (CHC, or Gf-Gc) theory of cognitive abilities, the standard battery of ten tests in the WJ-Cog can be administered in under 90 minutes, with the extended battery providing a wider and deeper scope of tests. Additionally, a short version of the WJ-Cog, known as the BIA, is available for administration in around 30 minutes. The WJ-Cog and WJ-Ach are co-normed, and so information about the level of achievement appropriate for a given level of cognitive ability is easily obtainable. The results obtained using the WJ-Cog are comparable to those achieved using the Weschler batteries, with correlations similar to those reported between global composite scores from major intelligence batteries (in the order or 0.71 – 0.76; McGrew & Woodcock, 2001).
Using the standard WJ-Cog battery, an overall measure of General Intellectual Ability (GIA) and cognitive performance clusters of Verbal Ability, Thinking Ability, and Cognitive Efficiency are generated. In addition, a series of CHC factor clusters and clinical clusters are also generated from selected tests from the extended battery. CHC factor clusters include Comprehension-Knowledge; Long-Term Retrieval, Visual-Spatial Thinking, Auditory Processing, Fluid Reasoning, Processing Speed, and Short-Term Memory. The CHC clusters Quantitative Knowledge and Reading-Writing Ability are tested in the WJ-III Ach tests. Clinical Clusters include Phonemic Awareness, Working Memory, Broad Attention, Cognitive Fluency, Executive Processes, Delayed Recall and Knowledge. These additional clusters can provide further supporting information in the diagnosis of other psychological disorders (in conjunction with a comprehensive assessment).
Other benefits of the WJ tests include the ability to re-test a client who has recently completed a Weschler test without invalidating the results due to learning effects; clear and straightforward record forms for scoring; availability of Australian norms and stimuli (auditory stimuli available in Australian accents, American words such as “cookie” converted to local alternatives like “biscuit”); and the development of fast and straightforward electronic scoring which dramatically reduces the time taken to score a test.
The Woodcock-Johnson tests are in use at Bower Place for clients with questions about cognitive ability, academic achievement and learning disorders. They have also been used effectively with clients who are considering returning to tertiary study after a break from formal education but are concerned as to their cognitive ability, and clients who are considering new career paths.
References
McGrew & Johnson (2001) Technical Manual. Woodcock Johnson III. Itasca , IL: Riverside Publishing.
