Comparison of the Kaufman Assessment Battery and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for learning disabled black and white children
Date
2014-03-27
Authors
Taylor, Mandy
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Abstract
This study examined the performance of black and white learning disabled South
African children on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and the
Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - Revised and Third Edition (WISCRAA/
ISC-III). The K-ABC and WISC-RAA/ISC-III were administered to 34 white
children and 21 black children aged 6 to 11 years (mean 7-9 years) at private
remedial schools. The mean WiSC-R/WISC-lll Full Scale IQ for blacks was 84.19
(SD = 7.41) which was significantly lower than the mean Full Scale IQ for whites
which was 93.97 (SD = 11.13). The difference between their scores on the K-ABC
Mental Processing Composite was not significant. For the black sample, the WiSCR/
WISC-li! Full Scale IQ was significantly lower then the K-ABC Mental Processing
Composite (f= 6.9, p<.001). Additionally, the performance of the black sample on
the Verbal subscale of the WISC-R/WISC-III, as well as their scores on various
subtests th?' constitute the acquired learning cluster (Vocabulary and Information),
were found to be significantly lower than those of the white sample. A qualitative
examination of teachers’ ratings of intellectual potential suggested that the K-ABC is
a more equitable measure of intelligence for black South African children. The
results supported the utility of the K-ABC as a non-discriminatory instrument which
may be a viable alternative to the WISC-R/WISC-III for South African children.