Temporal stability of WISC-III subtest composite: strengths and weaknesses.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Third Edition (D. Wechsler, 1991; WISC-III) is often used to identify subtest-based cognitive strengths and weaknesses that are subsequently used to generate interventions. Given that intelligence is presumed to be an enduring trait, cognitive strengths and weaknesses identified via subtest analysis should also be stable over time. This was evaluated with 579 students who were twice tested with the WISC-III. Based on 66 subtest composites, 6 or 7 interpretable cognitive strengths and weaknesses were found on each WISC-III administration. However, subtest-based strengths and weaknesses replicated across test-retest occasions at chance levels. Because subtest-based cognitive strengths and weaknesses are unreliable, recommendations based on them will also be unreliable. ((c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved)