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Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III)
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III)
| Availability |
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
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| Classification |
Supplemental: Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Epilepsy and Mitochondrial Disease (Mito)
Exploratory: Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD)
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| Short Description of Instrument |
The Wechsler scales are the most common tests of general cognitive abilities. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) is an intelligence test designed for children ages 2 years 6 months to 7 years 7 months developed by David Wechsler in 1967. Since its original publication, the WPPSI has been revised 3 times, 1989, 2002 and 2012. (Beres et al., 1999; Wechsler 1989, 2002, 2012) The most current version the WPPSI-IV (Wechsler, 2012) is a revision of the WPPSI-R (Wechsler, 1989) and the WPPSI-III (Wechsler, 2002). It provides subtest and composite scores that represent intellectual functioning in verbal and performance cognitive domains, as well as providing a composite score that represents a child's general intellectual ability (i.e., Full Scale IQ).
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| Comments/Special Instructions |
The most widely used intelligence tests for individuals from preschool age through adulthood have the Wechsler name associated with them. (Piotrowski, 2003). As defined by Wechsler, intelligence is "the capacity to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his [or her] environment". (Lichtenberger & Kaufman, 2004).
The WPPSI-IV has 14 different subtests in three specific types (Core, Supplemental or Optional). Children aged 2 years, 6 months to 3 years, 11 months are administered 5 subtests: Receptive Vocabulary, Block Design, Information, Object Assembly and Picture Naming.
Children aged 4 years to 7 years, 7 months are administered the 5 subtests listed above as well as the 9 additional subtests: Vocabulary, Picture Concepts, Symbol Search, Word Reasoning, Coding, Comprehension, Picture Completion, Similarities and Matrix Reasoning.
The test typically takes less than an hour and is given one-on-one by a trained psychologist.
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| Scoring and Psychometric Properties |
Scoring Options: Manual, Software-based, web-based
Publication Date: WPPSI-IV was published in 2012 (WPPSI-III was published in 2002)
Primary Dependent Measures: Overall Composite Score: Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Primary and Ancillary Index scores, Subtest Scaled scores
The Primary Index scales include:
The Ancillary Index scales include:
Ancillary Index Scores for ages 2:6-3:11 include: Vocabulary Acquisition, Nonverbal, General Ability
Ancillary Index Scores for ages 4:0-7:7 include: Vocabulary Acquisition, Nonverbal, General Ability, Cognitive Proficiency
For IQ and composite scores, M = 100 and SD = 15; for scaled scores, M = 10, SD = 3. (Aylward & Stancin, 2008)
Standard score range for WPPSI-IV
Below 70 = Extremely Low
70-79 = Borderline
80-89 = Low Average
90-109 = Average
110-119 = High Average
120-129 = Superior
130+ = Very Superior.
Psychometric Properties: With each iteration of the WPPSI, the norms were updated. The current WPPSI normative sample was standardized on 1,700 children ages 2:6-7:7. The normative sample was stratified to match current U.S. census data based on sex, race/ethnicity, parent education level, and geographical region for each group and the subtest floors and ceilings permit for more accurate measurement at the extremes of cognitive ability. (Wechsler, 2012)
For WPPSI-IV update validity studies have been done with other measures including WPPSI-III, WISC-IV, Bayley-III and WIAT-III. (Wechsler, 2012)
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| Rationale/Justification |
Norms: Updated normative sample standardized on 1,700 children ages 2.6 to 7.7, stratified to match current U.S. census data based on sex, race/ethnicity, parent education level, and geographical region for each group.
Strengths: The WPPSI can be used to assess general intellectual functioning, to identify intellectual giftedness or to identify cognitive delay and learning difficulties in children aged 2.6 to 7.7 years.
Weaknesses: Like all Wechsler tests, the assessment needs to be given by a trained administrator (i.e., psychologist). Scores cannot be used to diagnose intellectual disability in the severe-to-profound range. (Stein & Korey, 2009)
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| References |
Key References:
Wechsler, D. (1967). Manual for the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler, D. (1989). Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Revised. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler D. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Third edition administration manual. Pearson Assessments: San Antonio, TX, 2002.
Wechsler, D. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition WPPSI-IV. Pearson Assessments: San Antonio, TX, 2012.
Additional References:
Aylward GP & Stancin T. Screening and Assessment Tools. In Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. (Wolraich ML, Drotar DD, Dworkin PA, Perrin EC, eds) Mosby, 2008, pp.123-201.
Beres KA, Kaufman AS, Perlman MD. Assessment of Child Intelligence. In: Handbook of Psychological Assessment, 3rd ed. (Goldstein G & Herson M, eds.) New York: Pergamon, 1999, pp. 65-96. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence--Revised (WPPSI-R)
Colom R. Intelligence Assessment. Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology. 2004, pp.307-314.
Gregory, R.J. (2007). Testing special populations: Infant and preschool assessment. Psychological Testing. Pearson Education, Inc.
Lichtenberger EO & Kaufman AS. Essentials of WPPSI-III Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, 2004.
Piotowski NA. Magill's Encyclopedia of Social Science Psychology. Vol 2. Pasadena, CA, Salem Press, 2003.
Prigatano G, Gray J. (2008a). Predictors of performance on three developmentally sensitive neuropsychological tests in children with and without traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj. 2008a;22(6):491-500.
Prigatano G, Gray J, Gale S. (2008b). Individual case analysis of processing speed difficulties in children with and without traumatic brain injury. Clin Neuropsychol. 2008b;22(4):603-619.
Stein MT & Korey Lukasik M. Developmental Screening and Assessment: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. In Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (Fourth Edition). (Carey WB, Crocker AC, Coleman WL, Elias ER, Feldman HM, eds.) W.B. Saunders, 2009, pp. 785-796.
WPPSI used in CMD studies:
Messina S, Bruno C, Moroni I, Pegoraro E, D'Amico A, Biancheri R, Berardinelli A, Boffi P, Cassandrini D, Farina L, Minetti C, Moggio M, Mongini T, Mottarelli E, Pane M, Pantaleoni C, Pichiecchio A, Pini A, Ricci E, Saredi S, Sframeli M, Tortorella G, Toscano A, Trevisan CP, Uggetti C, Vasco G, Comi GP, Santorelli FM, Bertini E, Mercuri E. Congenital muscular dystrophies with cognitive impairment. A population study. Neurology. 2010;75(10):898-903.
Mercuri E, Gruter-Andrew J, Philpot J, Sewry C, Counsell S, Henderson S, Jensen A, Naom I, Bydder G, Dubowitz V, Muntoni F. Cognitive abilities in children with congenital muscular dystrophy: correlation with brain MRI and merosin status. Neuromuscul Disord. 1999 Oct;9(6-7):383-7.
Document last updated October 2024
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