Standardization Process of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test

The aptitude and personality tests are standardized to establish their credibility. The Wechsler adult intelligence test is also a standardized test. The standardization creates a uniformity of procedures for administration and scoring of these tests.

Whatever test of this family you take, you shall find the same conditions in all of them.

Detailed Instructions

The scale contains detailed directions for the examiners and examinees. You will find the same kind of material, same types of time limits and same genre of the oral instructions. You will also see preliminary examples to solve the offered multiple choice questionnaire. 

Establishment of Norm

Norm stands for normal or average. The Wechsler test doesn’t provide any space for failing or passing. Your correct answers provide empirical data to help to compare your capabilities with other candidates in the same session. The process gives a raw score that is called norm of the Wechsler test. It is useless unless it is evaluated regarding suitable interpretive data.

Large and Representative Sample of a Wechsler adult intelligence test

The test was administered upon a large number of people for standardization purposes. Census report for the year of 1995 was taken from the U.S Bureau to calculate representation of different sexes, ages, race, education levels and geographic locations. The sample was divided into 13 following categories: 1- 16-17

2- 18-19

3- 20-24

4- 25-29

5- 30-34

6- 35-44

7- 45-54

8- 55-64

9- 65-69

10- 70-74

11- 75-79

12- 80-84

13- 85-89

Except last two, each group included 200 participants.

Not a Fully Representative Sample

Besides merits, there are certain objections that critics frequently point out. They rightly claim that the sample taken for standardization of the Wechsler intelligence test was not fully representative. Certain categories of population were excluded from the sample selected. The point out the exclusion of the following broader categories:


1- Color blindness

2- Hearing Problems

3- Visual Impairment

4- Alcoholic

5- Addicts

6- Upper extremity impairment

7- Users of anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs

8- Having some brain impairment problems (head injury, stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer and Schizophrenia)

This means the norm of the Wechsler adult intelligence test was calculated upon the answers given by a healthier sample than the average one. Furthermore, the Wechsler adult intelligence Scale III has been harder than the Wechsler adult intelligence scale Revised. You can't expect the same level of score with both of them.

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Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III and Old Versions

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