Feigned intellectual deficits on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) is a widely used measure of intellectual functioning.
• Detecting malingering, or faking impairment, on cognitive tests is a significant challenge in clinical and forensic settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the faking tactics employed by individuals feigning intellectual impairment on the WAIS-R.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of detecting these simulated faking strategies.

Main Methods:

• Two distinct groups (incarcerated young offenders and psychology postgraduates/research fellows) were instructed to feign intellectual disability on the WAIS-R.
• Performance was analyzed for both quantitative scores and qualitative features of responses.

Main Results:

• Both groups successfully produced faked WAIS-R scores within the intellectual disability range.
• Unusual response patterns and error types were observed in both groups.
• The faking tactics utilized were found to be readily detectable.

Conclusions:

• WAIS-R performance interpretation requires careful consideration of both numerical scores and qualitative aspects of test-taking behavior.
• Qualitative analysis of errors can aid in identifying simulated intellectual impairment.