This study examined the effects of level and quality of education on WAIS-III Digit Symbol-Incidental Learning performance. The Pairing and Free Recall measures were administered to a South African sample (N = 68, age range 19-30), which was stratified for English and African language, level of education attained (Grade 12s and Graduates) and quality of education (advantaged and disadvantaged schooling). Results yielded no significant main or interaction effects between acculturation factors of level and quality of education. Normative guidelines of 13 or more pairs and 8 or more free recall symbols, appropriate to a non-clinical sample in a multicultural setting, are provided. Digit Symbol-Incidental Learning proved to be a culture-fair test, which contributes to its clinical utility as a sensitive memory screening tool.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 3rd Edition (WAIS-III) is the newest of the internationally recognised Wechsler family of intelligence tests. It has been improved in terms of its psychometric properties, neuropsychological assessment abilities and its content. This test is in the process of being standardised by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa. As the adapted South African version will be available shortly for use in the multicultural circumstances of South Africa, the application of the various aspects of this test needs to be investigated. This test is very comprehensive and thorough, however its one disadvantage is that it takes on average three hours to administer in its entirety. Thus there is a need to find ways in which to abbreviate the test for particular purposes when time is limited, for example in research, brief clinical assessments or neuropsychological screenings. The concept of abbreviating tests, including the earlier Wechsler intelligence test can be traced back to 1917, when it was asked if all the items on the Binet-Simon scale were required to give an accurate assessment of IQ (Levy, 1968). Since then there have been many short form suggestions made, with many different considerations in mind. These can be divided into two main approaches or methods. Firstly, the number of subtests of the scale can be reduced. Thus with the WAIS-III which consists of 14 subtests in total, an option is to use, for example only four of the subtests to get an estimate of a person's IQ. Secondly, the number of items in each subtest can be reduced. Thus only half the items or even only a third of the items on a subtest can be administered to get an estimate of the persons' performance on each subtest and in this way estimate their overall IQ. Both methods have been used on the WAIS and WAIS-R, although the reduction of the subtests is favoured. Both should now be validated and considered for use with the WATS-III in South Africa. Wechsler tests and their constituent subtests have been found to be differentially effected by race, education, language and socio-economic status (Kaufman, McLean & Reynolds, 1988; Nell 1999). These differences have also been found to impact on the short forms which are suggested, as certain subtests are considered to be more biased towards particular groups than others. Vocabulary and Block Design in particular bias testees who are not as westernised or acculturated towards a largely American and European culture (Kaufman, McLean & Reynolds, 1988). These differences, although often ascribed to race, language or socio-economic status can best be understood more broadly in terms of degree of acculturation (i.e. westernisation) (Shuttleworth-Jordan, 1996) and test-wiseness (Nell, 1999). In South Africa in particular, with its extreme cultural diversity these factors need to be carefully considered when developing short forms. In the present study the development of a short form appropriate to South Africa's diverse cultural circumstances will be approached, through a sample which has been stratified according to gender, first language (English vs. African), quality of schooling received (Private/Model C vs. DET) and level of education achieved (Matric vs. Graduate). Both a subtest reduction method and an item reduction method will be considered to arrive at a short form. The subtest reduction method will be considered further in an attempt to clarify which subtests would be more or less appropriate to include in a short form considering group differences. Finally the thesis will develop suggestions as to which short forms would be best for use in South Africa.

The objective of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) from a wellness perspective. The conceptualisation and measurement of emotional intelligence has recently received much attention due to its applicability to various workplace variables. The theoretical component of this study covers the definition and measurement of emotional intelligence, and integrates this with the concepts of salutogenesis and psychological well-being. The empirical study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and three wellness-related constructs. Measures of these constructs were administered to a non-random sample of 118 employees at a South African software development organisation. Statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between emotional intelligence and sense of coherence, locus of control and three of the five emotion-focused coping strategies measured. / Industtrial and Organisation Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) from a wellness perspective. The conceptualisation and measurement of emotional intelligence has recently received much attention due to its applicability to various workplace variables. The theoretical component of this study covers the definition and measurement of emotional intelligence, and integrates this with the concepts of salutogenesis and psychological well-being. The empirical study investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence and three wellness-related constructs. Measures of these constructs were administered to a non-random sample of 118 employees at a South African software development organisation. Statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between emotional intelligence and sense of coherence, locus of control and three of the five emotion-focused coping strategies measured. / Industtrial and Organisation Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

No description available.

The primary problem of this study was to determine the relationship between BGT performance, as indexed by the Developmental Scoring System of Koppitz, and performance on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

It was the purpose of this study to attempt to discover if the educational background and judgment ability of juvenile delinquents are markedly impaired, as indicated by the Information and Comprehension subtest scores of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

The problem consists of investigating relationships between the Wechsler Bellevue Intelligence Scale, Form I, and the Kuder Preference Record-Personal.

Because there is a growing amount of contradictory evidence concerning the relationship of WISC-R subscale scores to hemispheric orientation, the present study examined the validity of the WISC-R subscale scores as indicators of individual hemispheric orientation. The present study hypothesized a significant relationship between Verbal-Performance scale score discrepancies and hemispheric orientation as assessed by conjugate lateral eye movements. This study also hypothesized that subjects with a right hemisphere orientation would score higher on t~ block design, picture completion, and object assembly subtests than would subjects with a left hemisphere orientation.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.