Temporal Stability of Gifted Children’s Intelligence
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1995
Description
The longitudinal stability of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was examined for its consistency in determining children’s eligibility for gifted programs. The WISC-R was administered initially and then at 36 and 72 month intervals. No significant statistical differences were found among the WISC-R verbal, performance, and full scale IQ scores across the three test administrations. Over the six year period, the highest mean IQ differences obtained on each of the three test administrations were: nine IQ points among the three verbal scale mean scores, ten IQ points among the three performance IQ mean scores, and seven IQ points among the three full scale mean scores. The WISC-R information subtest produced the only statistical significant difference (p<.05) over the three assessment periods. All the other nine WISC-R subtest scale scores were extremely stable producing less than one scale score point difference among the three test administrations. All 66 children who were originally determined to be eligible for gifted programs maintained their eligibility status over the six year period. Results from this study generally agree with previous research findings using shorter re-test intervals.
Citation Information
Spangler, Robert S.; and Sabatino, David A.. 1995. Temporal Stability of Gifted Children’s Intelligence. Roeper Review. Vol.17(3). 207-210. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783199509553661 ISSN: 0278-3193