Return to search

An investigation into the effects of socio-economic and education factors on WAIS-III performance in a stratified South African sample

The present study examined the effects of socio-economic status, quality and level of education on performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 3rd Edition r.:w AIS-III). The study was conducted within the context of the present Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) W AIS-III standardisation process, cross-cultural psychometric research and the notion of test-wiseness. A South African sample (N = 68) comprising African first language (n = 40) and English first language (n = 28) participants, stratified for age (19 - 30 years), gender and educational attainment (Matric and Graduate) were utilised. Effects due to quality of education were determined by dividing the African language participants into those with private/model C schooling (n = 20) and those with DET schooling (n = 20). Effects due to level of education were determined by dividing the entire sample into those with Matric level education (n = 34) and those with Graduate level education (n = 34). Detailed demographic and socio-economic information were recorded for all participants, who completed the entire American version of the W AIS-III. Results revealed a highly significant positive correlation between high socio-economic status and W AIS-III Full Scale IQ. In addition the respective impact of the relatively poor quality of education and lower level of educational attainment on W AIS-III performance was substantial. These results were discussed in terms of their implications for cross-cultural research, the HSRC standardisation of the W AIS-III and the practical use of the W AIS-III in neuropsychological assessment.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:rhodes/vital:3002
Date January 2000
CreatorsKemp, Ryan
PublisherRhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, Psychology
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis, Masters, MA
Format143 pages, pdf
RightsKemp, Ryan

Page generated in 0.0016 seconds