Patterns of performance on the verbal and performance subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised: some Australian data.

The pattern of performance of 345 vocational guidance clients on the WAIS-R was examined in relation to previous studies of client populations. An exploratory principal axis factor analysis was conducted, and two factors that accounted for 89% of the total variance were selected. These comprised a general factor on which the Verbal subtests loaded most highly and a smaller Performance subtest factor. A hypothesis-testing approach was undertaken as a second step, using multiple group analysis. Two factors (which correlated .58) accounted for 65% of the total variance. The first factor (51%) was also a general factor on which all subtests, but moreso the Verbal tests, loaded highly. The second factor was dominated by Performance subtests. Implications for special client samples and intellectual assessment are discussed.