Weschler’s Memory Scale Diagnostic Report

Upali Upasana Giri (2337564)

Department of Psychology, Christ (DEEMED to be University)

MPS251: Psychodiagnostics Lab – I

Prof. Athullya S Nair

January 26, 2024

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Weschler’s Memory Scale

Weschler’s Memory Scale assesses people’s memory on multiple levels. As per the

current concepts of memory, it offers comprehensive information about how an individual's

memory functions (Groth-Marnat, 2003).Quick tests on paired words, arithmetic sequences,

and simple visual designs comprised the Weschler Memory Scale, which was first published

in 1945. Totaling the results from each of the scale's individual memory tasks yielded the

WMS scores. An assessment of memory was produced as a result, and this was compared to

IQs measured using the Weschler Intelligence Scale. Because of this, physicians may now

compare IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and MQ (Memory Quotient) simultaneously. In fifteen

minutes, WMS administration was completed (Groth-Marnat, 2003).

The scoring conventions were developed using a relatively small sample size

from Bellevue Hospital, and the scoring techniques employed by WMS were extremely

simple. Russell later made an effort to fix the scale's issues, leading to the development of the

WMS Revised scale. Russell's WMS-R demonstrated the ability to distinguish between tasks

requiring short- and long-term memory. The WMS-III was developed approximately ten

years after the measure's extremely low psychometric properties. The main advantage of this

scale was that it considered the intricacy of the connections between behaviour and the brain

that are involved in learning and memory. There were additional subtests introduced,

complex scoring schemes created, and new index settings created.

The WAIS-III scale and this scale were produced concurrently, enabling the co-

norming of the two measures (Groth-Marnat, 2003). Orientation, Mental Control, Digit

Span, Visual Reproduction, Personal and Current Information, and Associate Learning are the

seven subtests that make up the scale. There is a time constraint on some exams, like the
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Mental Control and Visual Reproduction tasks. Each subtest will be evaluated separately to

assess an individual's level of performance; the sum of the individual subtest scores, which

equals four, will yield the Memory Quotient. Next, the WAIS-III IQ score standards (Tulsky

et al., 2003) will be compared to this score.

Psychometric Properties of the Test

The internal consistency for primary subtest ranges between 0.74 and 0.94 across age

groups, and the primary indexes have internal consistencies of 0.82. Test-retest reliabilities

over a two-to twelve-week interval showed a range of 0.62 to 0.82 for all subtests. For the

Auditory Recognition Delayed tasks, the internal consistency and test-retest reliability were

slightly lower, 0.74 and 0.70 respectively (Groth Marnat, 2003).

Application

When evaluating memory functioning in people with a variety of mental illnesses,

such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, head injuries, etc., the WMS-III is a very helpful

tool. The scale can thus distinguish between groups that are clinical and those that are

normal. The measure also aids in the diagnosis of brain malfunction by helping medical

professionals spot differences between IQ and memory. According to Groth-Marnat (2003), it

can offer more details about visual perception, orientation, learning, attention, and the

propensity for lying.

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Weschler’s Memory Scale Diagnostic Report

Socio demographic details of the client

Name of the client: TV

Age: 22

Gender: Female

Education/occupation: Post Graduate student (1st Year)

Date of Administration: 19 January 2024

Test Administered: Wechsler Memory Scale

Observation: The client was comfortable and calm throughout the test. The instructions

were clarified and She did the test with ease. She was able to complete the test without errors

or doubts.
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Table 1.1

Indicating clients score on the Wechsler’s Memory Scale

Area Tests Score Time

Personal and
6 -
Current Information
Orientation 5 -
Counting Backward from 20-1 3 6 seconds
Mental control Alphabets 3 3.38 seconds
Counting by 3’s (45) 0 40 seconds
Passage 1 15 -
Logical Memory Passage 2 12 -
Average 13.5 -

Digit Forward/ Digit Forward 7

Backward
Digit Backward 5
A 3 -
B 5 -
Visual Reproduction C1 2 -
C2 3 -
Total 14 -
Easy A1 9 -
Associate Learning Hard B1 12 -
Total 21 -
Total Raw score 77.5
Correction Score 110.5
Memory Quotient 122
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Test Interpretation

Weschler’s Memory Scale-III was administered on the female client of age 22. The

rapport building was done and test instruction were given followed by asking for any doubts

or clarification. There are a total of 7 subtypes of the test and the scores of the same are given

below.

Personal and Current Information

The client was asked a set of questions about their personal life like age and date of

birth, and a few general questions like the Prime Minister of India, Chief Minister of the state

etc. The Client answered 6 out of 6 questions correctly. The total score for this task was 6.

Orientation

The client was asked question to test the orientation to place and time. The client

scored correctly on 5 out of 5 questions. The total score for this task was 5.

Mental Control

The client was asked to engage in certain mental tasks like counting backward from

20 to 1, reciting the alphabets in forward manner and counting by 3’s from 1 to 40. It was a

time bound test. The client was able to recite effortlessly, and took 6 seconds for the first task

with no errors, 2.38 seconds for the second task with no errors and 40 seconds for the final

task with 2 errors. The total score for this task was 6.

Logical Memory

The client was made to listen to 2 sets of English language short paragraphs, and was

asked to repeat everything they remembered, in the right order. The recalled chunks of

memories were scored. The scores of the first paragraph was 15 and second was 12. The total

score for this task was 13.5.

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Digits Forward

The client was asked to repeat digits in the same order as recited, and it ranged from 4

to 8 digits. The client was able to repeat number sequence told to them till 7 digits and had

difficulty in the 8 digits set. and the digit span was recorded as 7.

Digits Backward

The client was instructed to repeat digits in the reverse order of what was told, and it

ranged from 3 to 7 digits. The client had difficulty at the 6 digits set and wrongly repeated the

set, and hence, The digit span was recorded as 5.

Visual Reproduction

The client was shown 4 images that they had to draw in a sheet of paper. Each image

was presented to them for 10 seconds separately, and they drew it one by one. The client was

able to reproduce all the images almost accurately, and scored 14.

Associate Learning

The client was given 10 pairs of words, out of which 6 were related semantically and

were classified under the easy words, and 4 unrelated words that were considered hard. Later,

the client was asked to tell the second word when the first word was presented. This was done

in 3 presentations, with 10 seconds between each presentation. The client got 4 hard

associations correct, and 6 correct easy associations on the first, second and third

presentation. The total score of this task was 21.

Total Scores and Memory Quotient

The scores of these tasks were summed to give a total raw score of 77.5. The client’s

corrected score is recorded as 110.5, based on the correction score table provided in the

manual and was corrected as per the age of 22 in the given age range.. The Memory Quotient
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obtained for is 122. The score of 122 falls under the superior intelligence category on

comparison with the Weschler’s IQ classification.

Impression and Recommendations

The client’s Memory Quotient is 122, which falls under the superior intelligence

range of IQ from the Weschler IQ classification. This a rare case with above average

intelligence. According to researches, the client scores high than 6.7% of the population.

Since it is Superior IQ, there aer very specific recommendation to nurture the intelligence

level.

1. Engage in mentally challenging activities

1. Push oneself academically by signing up for advanced classes, competing in academic

settings, or working on individual research projects.

2. Explore areas of interest that interest them, such as physics, literature, philosophy, or

other subjects.

2. Establish connections with like-minded people

1. Join groups or clubs for advanced learners, niche hobbies, or career advancement.

2. Attend workshops or conferences and make connections with colleagues and subject

matter experts.

3. Seek out mentors who can offer direction and encouragement for their intellectual and

personal development.

3. Use their abilities to better the world by volunteering

1. Launch their own company or venture to carry out their ideas and aspirations.

2. Make a difference in the world and increase awareness by using their voice.
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Discussion

Weschler's Memory Scale is used to assess people's memory on a number of different

dimensions. According to the most recent theories on memory, it offers detailed information

about how someone's memory functions (Groth-Marnat, 2003).When the Weschler Memory

Scale was first released in 1945, it comprised short assessments on basic visual designs,

numerical sequences, and paired phrases. The scores from each of the scale's individual

memory tests were added up to determine the WMS scores. A Memory Quotient was the

outcome, and it was compared to IQs found on the Weschler Intelligence Scale. Clinicians

may now compare MQ and IQ simultaneously thanks to this. It took fifteen minutes to

administer the WMS (Groth-Marnat, 2003).

The 22-year-old female client scored exceptionally well on the Weschler's Memory

Scale-III, indicating extraordinary cognitive ability. She demonstrated exceptional cognitive

and memory abilities across seven kinds. The Orientation and Personal Information tasks

were perfect, with scores of 5 and 6, respectively. She earned a score of 6 in Mental Control

by completing assignments within the allotted time. A total score of 13.5 was obtained on the

logical memory tasks, including well-remembered paragraph fragments. The digit span for

the Digits Forward and Backward tasks was 5 and 7, respectively. With a score of 14, Visual

Reproduction demonstrated accurate sketching of the images that were provided. The client

performed exceptionally well in Associate Learning, obtaining a score of 21. The raw score

was 77.5 overall. The age correction was then made to 110.5. Her Memory Quotient of 122

places her above 93.3% of the population, placing her in the high intelligence group. Her

exceptional intelligence calls for her to take on difficult tasks, pursue higher education,

investigate a variety of hobbies, network with like-minded people, go to workshops, look for

mentorship, volunteer, and use her skills for good.

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In conclusion, the client's Memory Quotient of 122 puts her in the outstanding

intelligence range, emphasising her capacity to make significant contributions and offering

particular paths for both intellectual and personal growth.

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References

David Wechsler (1945) A Standardized Memory Scale for Clinical Use, The Journal of

Psychology, 19:1, 87-95, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1945.9917223

Groth Marnat, G. (2003). Handbook of psychological assessment, 4th ed. John Wiley &

Sons, Inc. [Link]

Tulsky, D. S., Chiaravalloti, N., Palmer, B. W., & Chelune, G. (2003, December 31). The

Wechsler Memory Scale, Third Edition. ResearchGate; unknown.

[Link]

Third_Edition
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