Comparative validity of three Wechsler short forms for delinquents.

Investigated the validity of Vocabulary-Block Design short forms for the WISC-R, WAIS, and WAIS-R in a clinical population of 126 adjudicated male delinquents age 16 years. The difference between the means of each short form and its corresponding Full Scale IQ was small and nonsignificant. The correlations between each short form and corresponding Full Scale IQ ranged between .88 and .92 and therefore accounted for between 77% and 84% of the variance shared by the measures. The WAIS and WAIS-R were superior to the WISC-R in correctly classifying Ss by intelligence category. It was concluded that Wechsler short forms, especially the WAIS and WAIS-R, are useful as screening devices for older delinquents, but inadequate for making individual treatment program decisions.