The Wide Range Intelligence test (WRIT) is an assessment of verbal (
crystallized) and visual (
fluid
In physics, a fluid is a liquid, gas, or other material that continuously deforms (''flows'') under an applied shear stress, or external force. They have zero shear modulus, or, in simpler terms, are substances which cannot resist any shea ...
)
IQ. Running at approximately 30 minutes, the WRIT is shorter than traditional IQ tests. The test also involves only four subtests and requires fewer physical materials than a typical test. It was created alongside the
Wide Range Achievement Test 3 (WRAT3),
a measure of reading comprehension and academic ability, by
Pearson Education
Pearson Education is a British-owned education publishing and assessment service to schools and corporations, as well for students directly. Pearson owns educational media brands including Addison–Wesley, Peachpit, Prentice Hall, eColleg ...
in 2000. The WRIT is intended to assess those aged 4 through 85. It is designed for easy administration among trained psychologists, which is accomplished using a hierarchical model that frequently occurs in psychological testing.
Development
The WRIT is one of many short-form IQ tests developed since the
Wechsler-Bellevue scale, an early model for intelligence testing, was created. The popular shortening of IQ tests, especially those intended for children, is primarily due to the increasingly heavy workloads of
school psychologists
School psychology is a field that applies principles from educational psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, community psychology, and behavior analysis to meet the learning and behavioral health needs of children and adol ...
. Experts have historically argued that these shorter tests are less accurate. The WRIT is an attempt to optimize accuracy in a short-form IQ test that includes fewer subtests.
The test was developed with a stratified sample of 2,285 people aged 4 to 85.
The test was published by British testing company
Pearson in 2000; its manual was written by Joseph Glutting, Wayne Adams, and David Sheslow.
Method
The WRIT begins with a visual subtest involving matrices. These are followed by verbal analogies, visual diamonds, and a vocabulary test. Specific administration and starting points are determined by age range.
Matrices
In the first portion of the test, examinees are given a limited amount of time to select an image that satisfies a relationship in a series of images. Matrices are typically a series of shapes with implied relationships in shape, shading, or transformation. This subtest is nonverbal and is completed on an easel.
Verbal Analogies
This test is administrated verbally. The examiner provides a statement such as "A cat to a kitten is a dog to a ___." The examinee is asked to complete this statement. Verbal analogies are used to determine verbal,
crystallized intelligence and demonstrate an understanding of oral language. There is no visual element to this subtest, and pronunciation guides are not provided for the administrator.
Visual Diamonds
Under a specified time limit, the examinee is asked to reproduce two- or three-dimensional patterns using diamond-shaped cardboard chips. This test is intended to require low physical dexterity and focus on higher spatial understanding and visual manipulation skills. The test is presented in easel format with no verbal element except initial instructions.
Vocabulary Test
In the vocabulary test, the examinee defines words given by the examiner. The test has no visual elements. Unlike the verbal analogies subtest, the vocabulary test provides a pronunciation guide for more difficult words.
Effectiveness and criticism
Standardization
The standardization of the WRIT is generally deemed effective in regards to demographics. The test was developed with a demographic sample based on the
1997 U.S. census. Though some aspects of this sample are generally considered adequate, experts have criticized these trials due to educational discrepancies in some age groups. In young adult demographics, individuals with college educations were overrepresented. This has caused speculation of possible inaccuracy in the WRIT scale.
A noted positive aspect of the WRIT test is its familiarity. Since its subtest tasks mirror those of traditional, long-form
IQ tests
An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence. The abbreviation "IQ" was coined by the psychologist William Stern for the German term ''Intelligenzq ...
, WRIT administration is easy to learn and quickly perform accurately. The WRIT examiner form is intended to be readable, attractive, and easy to use.
The WRIT is both praised and criticized for its "ceilings and floors," or its ability to detect extremely high and low scores. The test offers an extended range of scores compared to most intelligence tests. However, its extended range is inconsistent across age ranges. For example, the test is criticized for offering an inadequate "floor" at the
preschool age.
Practical use
The
WRAT, which was developed in coalition with the WRIT, is often criticized for its technical limitations, unreliability, and strong potential for bias. The
WRAT and the WRIT are often used together to identify
learning disabilities
Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty (British English) is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficult ...
among children. The identification system involving both these tests is thus considered questionable.
Despite the doubt surrounding shorter IQ tests, the WRIT and many similar tests—including the
Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI)—have a high correlation with full-length IQ test results.
The WRIT is widely used for screening purposes, especially in preschool- and school-aged children.
Although the WRIT likely suffers some loss due to its shorter length, the test is considered an effective indicator of general intelligence.
Many experts also agree that the test would benefit from more extensive standardization research due to limitations in its initial trials.
References
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External links
Certified IQ Test
Intelligence tests