Psychology: Study of Mental Life, Research Paper Example

Entire Scale Percentiles and CI’s

The client’s full-scale IQ stands at 102, which is an average classification if intelligence. Based on the client’s academic history, he seemed to have performed quite well and was even transferred a class ahead. For this reason, the anticipation would be that his full-scale IQ is above average (110 and above) but that’s not the case. In order to explain the reason for an average IQ, we look at his verbal and performance IQ test results. The subjects verbal IQ (at 111) is greater than his performance IQ (at 90), implying that the subject has been experiencing a decline in his performance.

Significance of the differences of various IQ and Index Scores

Moreover, the PIQ score of 90 is low (it gives a 25 percentile value) which indicates that there is critical significance in the decrease of the clients performance. The difference between VIQ and the PIQ is also significant and large (at 21). This could indicate an anomaly since the value is greater the tabulated score of 17 (Kaufman & Lichtenberger, 2006). However, looking further into the index score, there is no significance difference in verbal comprehension and perceptual organization IQ. But when these scores are compared to the subjects processing speed and working memory index score, there is quite a huge differences (difference of 23). Therefore, the score shows a positive correlation with the client’s verbal and performance IQ.

Weakness and Strengths Verbal and Performance Subtests

Under verbal subtests, the client has strengths in vocabulary and comprehension, which has the highest difference of 2.83. The mean is got by averaging scaled scores, while the difference by subtracting the mean value from the respective scaled values e.g. 13-10.17=2.83. On the other hand his weakness is in letter sequencing, since it has the largest negative resultant value i.e. 7-10.17=-3.17. The same procedure is applied in the performance subtest where the client has two performance strengths: picture completion and matrix reasoning. However, he has a weakness in symbol search.

Notably, based on the test scores, there is a clear indication that the client is aware and comprehend his current psychological situation. However, his lack of effort, inactions or low motivation is the main reason as to why he cannot improve his performance and social life. However, it is critical to note that the large differences got when comparing the various index scores may not imply that the subject had a bias toward verbal intelligence. It may simply mean that their presumed state of depression or anxiety had a significant negative impact on their non-verbal intelligence/ performance (Woodworth & Marquis, 2014).

References

Woodworth, R. S., & Marquis, D. G. (2014). Psychology: A study of mental life. London: Psychology Press.

Kaufman, A. S., & Lichtenberger, E. O. (2006). Assessing adolescent and adult intelligence. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.