Some Determiners of Performance on an Experimental Sentence Arrangement Test WAIS

Author(s):

Lanfeld, Eileen S.; Saunders, David R.

Publication Year:

1959

Report Number:

RM-59-12

Source:

ETS Research Memorandum

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

14

Subject/Key Words:

Society for the Investigation of Human Ecology, Factor Structure, Intelligence, Intelligence Tests, Test Format, Verbal Tests, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Abstract

This report describes some preliminary steps in the development of a Sentence Arrangement Test, designed for individual administration in conjunction with the WAIS. High performance on an SA item is associated with the use of a short sentence, the avoidance of internal punctuation as a cue to the solution, and the avoidance of psychological "threat" in the content of the solution. High SA performance by an individual subject is dependent on a factor of verbal knowledge and a factor of freedom from the "effect of uncertainty." (The latter is regarded as equivalent to "situational anxiety.") It appears to be possible to construct and administer a reliable form of SA that is valid for the two factors.

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