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Adaptation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) for Vietnam

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Abstract

Intelligence testing is used for many purposes including identification of children for proper educational placement (e.g., children with learning disabilities, or intellectually gifted students), and to guide education by identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses so that teachers can adapt their instructional style to students’ specific learning styles. Most of the research involving intelligence tests has been conducted in highly developed Western countries Yet the need for intelligence testing is as or even more important in developing countries. The present study, conducted through the Vietnam National University Clinical Psychology CRISP Center, focused on the cultural adaptation of the WISC-IV intelligence test for Vietnam. We report on (a) the adaptation process including the translation, cultural analysis and modifications involved in adaptation, (b) present results of two pilot studies, and (c) describe collection of the standardization sample and results of analyses with the standardization sample, with the goal of sharing our experience with other researchers who may be involved in or interested in adapting or developing IQ tests for non-Western, non-English speaking cultures.

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Correspondence to Bahr Weiss.

Additional information

This research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center, in particular grants D43-TW007769, R21-TW008435 and D43-TW005805, and by grant VNU-2009-011 from Vietnam National University.

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Dang, HM., Weiss, B., Pollack, A. et al. Adaptation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) for Vietnam. Psychol Stud 56, 387–392 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-011-0099-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-011-0099-5

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