Use of the WISC-III and K-BIT with Hmong Students.
Author(s):
Smith, Douglas K.; Wessels, Richard A.; Riebel, Emily M.
Format:
Report
Publisher:
1997.
Language:
English
Abstract:
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) provides a comprehensive measure of intelligence, whereas the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) provides a quick measure of intelligence, requiring less than 30 minutes to administer. Since both tests are frequently used in clinical settings and in schools for initial evaluations, it is important to determine the relationship of these tests to each other when administered to a variety of students. To meet this need, both tests were given to 40 Hmong students and test results are reported here. The mean age of the students was 9 years, 6 months and they had been in the United States for 8 years, on average. Results indicate that the K-BIT composite and the WISC-III fullscale scores are interchangeable. Likewise, the K-BIT Vocabulary score is interchangeable with the WISC-III verbal and verbal comprehension scores. K-BIT Matrices scores were also interchangeable with WISC-III processing speed and performance scores. Findings suggest that in situations in which a score alone is required or a second score to confirm a more in-depth measure of ability, the K-BIT offers practitioners a feasible alternative to the lengthier WISC-III. (RJM)