Administration Time Estimates For WAIS-R Subtests and Short Forms in a Clinical Sample

Abstract

Administration times were recorded for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS-R) subtests and Verbal, Performance, and Full Scales in a sample of 50 Veterans Administration Medical Center psychiatric and neurological patients. Also calculated were the administration times required by a select group of short forms. Results indicated that a complete WAIS-R required an average of 91 minutes, 24 seconds (SD = 14 min 15 sec). The estimate of 60 to 90 minutes' administration time for the standardization sample does not generalize to a clinical population. Five of six short forms reduced testing time by at least 50%. The shortest and least time-consuming abbreviated form consisted of Vocabulary and Block Design ( X̅ = 26 min 1 sec, SD = 6 min 23 sec). The most time-demanding short form was the entire Verbal Scale ( X̅ = 49 min 9 sec, SD = 9 min 45 sec). Because the complete WAIS-R is a time-consuming measure, its use in some clinical situations may be impractical.