WAIS Digit Span scores of 50 subjects were evaluated to determine the relationship of Digits Forward and Digits Backward to intellectual functioning in an intellectually subnormal population. The subjects fell into one of five levels of intelligence, 50—59, 60—69, 70—79, 80—89, and 90—99, based upon Full Scale WAIS IQ. WAIS IQs and Digits Backward are significantly more highly correlated to all three WAIS IQs than are Digits Forward. Only the WAIS Digit Span (combined forward and backward) and Digits Backward discriminated across the five levels of intelligence.
References
1.
CostaL.The relation of visuospatial dysfunction to digit span performance in patients with cerebral lesions. Cortex, 1975, 11, 31–36.
2.
CrookT.FerrisS.McCarthyM.RaeD.Utility of digit recall tasks for assessing memory in the aged. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1980, 48, 228–233.
3.
GilbertJ. G.LeveeR. F.Patterns of declining memory. Journal of Gerontology, 1971, 26, 70–75.
4.
GranickS.FriedmanA. L.The effect of education on the decline of psychomotor test performance with age. Journal of Gerontology, 1967, 22, 191–195.
5.
HaysW.Statistics. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1963.
6.
JensonA.FigueroaR.Forward and backward digit span interaction with race and IQ: predictions from Jenson's theory. Journal of Educational Psychology, 1975, 67, 882–893.
7.
La BruzzaA.Physical illness presenting as psychiatric disorder: guidelines for differential diagnosis. Journal of Operational Psychiatry, 1981, 12, 24–31.
8.
MatarazzoJ. D.Wechsler's ‘Measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence.’ (5th ed.) Baltimore, MD: Williams & Williams, 1972.
9.
McNemarQ.Psychological statistics. New York: Wiley, 1955.
10.
RappaportD.GillM.SchaferR.Diagnostic psychological testing. New York: International Universities Press, 1968.
11.
SaundersD.On the dimensionability of die WAIS battery for two groups of normal males. Psychological Reports, 1959, 5, 529–541.
12.
SlossonR.Manual for the Slosson Intelligence Test for Children and Adults. New York: Western Psychological Services, 1977.
13.
StrubR. L.BlackF. W.The Mental Status Examination in neurology. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis, 1977.
14.
WechslerD.A standardized memory scale for clinical use. Journal of Psychology, 1945, 19, 87–95.
15.
WechslerD.Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Psychological Corp., 1955.
16.
WilsonR. S.RosenbaumG.BrownG.RourkeD.WhitmanD.GrisellJ.Index of premorbid intelligence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1978, 46, 1554–1555.
17.
ZimmermanI. L.Woo-SamJ. M.Clinical interpretation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1973.
