The aim of the study was to check criterion validity of (WISC-IV) fourth edition
German version evidenced by the third edition of it (WISC-III), by applying it to a sample
of (550) normal children and adolescents from damascus city at the age of (6
to 16,11)
years. The sample subjects were equally distributed according to gender (225 males, 225
females), and according to age/grade category with an average of (50) subjects for each
category with a time period of one year from the first grade to the eleventh grade. The
subjects were chosen using the available accidental method from (13) public schools for
basic and secondary education. The findings showed that all of the criterion validity
coefficients of (WISC-IV) with the subtests included in it and for the four-factor domains,
evidenced by the subtests included in (WISC-III) at each age/grade category from (6 to
16,11) years were positive and significant. That is, they ranged between (0,6 to 0,994),
which were higher than (0.3) according to Metshell’s approach in explaining correlations
related to criterion validity. The findings were explained based on consistency between
subtests components for each of the third and fourth editions of (WISC). In other words,
(WISC-IV) is a German translation of the original American (WISC-IV), and the latter is
an extension to (WISC-III), which includes about (56%) of the third edition items. Also,
these results are partially consistent with some similar criterion validity coefficients, and
exceed them in others that are mentioned in the original guide at almost the same age
category.
