Woodcock Johnson III Cognitive Protocols

Psychological testing for intelligence is performed only by highly-trained licensed psychologists or highly trained masters clinicians under their supervision. Intelligence, or IQ tests may only be purchased by licensed psychologists who agree to preserve the test integrity. They do not reveal specifics of the tests, test questions or tasks, or let anyone unqualified access tests or test results. Among the Woodcock-Johnson tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Woodcock Johnson III (WJ III) is such a test.

What the Test Measures

• WJ III is an intelligence test comprised of a variety of different tasks, used for people ages two to 90 plus years old. It measures ways of thinking and processing information by testing what it terms verbal, thinking and cognitive efficiency abilities.

  The main protocol for conducting this test includes not revealing the steps on how to conduct the test. Detailed steps on conducting the test are protected under psychotherapy confidentiality. By providing the protocols for this test, it gives away information about the test itself allowing a test-taker to "beat" the test and thus compromises the test's efficiency.

  The purpose behind the WJ III test is to obtain an accurate depiction of a person's thinking processes and intelligence -- and this cannot be done if the test subject knows in advance how to take the test.

Test Tasks

• WJ-III consists of seven main subtests, each involving tasks performed in response to aurally- and visually-presented problems or questions. Each subtest measures a different cognitive factor involved in intelligence. Cognitive means thinking, from the Latin base word "cognos." There are six additional subtests that may be given depending upon the evaluator's judgment concerning which other tasks would best address the purpose of the testing. It takes about forty minutes to administer the basic subtests.

Test Scores

• Each subtest given is scored and then certain subtests produce a score for the General Intellectual Ability (GIA) or Brief Intellectual Ability (BIA) indexes. The scores give indications of a person's strengths, weaknesses or possible disabilities, like reading problems. Scores are also used for research on IQ testing and in research like comparing students' IQ and achievement test scores or grades.

  As with all similar tests, these scores are normed during the development of the test, so that the reliability and validity of the test for different types of people is sufficient. Each subtest and index has a margin of error.

Test Interpretation

• WJ III scores alone do not and cannot provide a picture of a person. The basic subtest and index scores are reported in the context of a written interpretive report. WJ III scores are interpreted on four levels: qualitative, level of development, degree of proficiency, and relative standing in a group. Behavior during testing and other information is taken into account in qualitative interpretation. Scores are reported in the context of people of like age or grade in school, given as standard scores and percentile ranks.

  A score of seven on a subtest could be be at the eighty-fifth percentile for all similar people taking the test by age level and the ninetieth percentile for a particular grade level. Test evaluators also look for patterns in the results in combination with overall information about the person, suggesting possible reasons for strong or weak test performance.

Uses of Test Results

• Unless the person tested agrees otherwise, all WJ III scores and interpretive reporting are confidential. Scores may be used for school placement, disability determination, as part of a full test battery including other types of tests and as information helpful for treatment planning. The test booklets, questions and scoring sheets are not included in reporting, in order to protect the test.