CLUSTER SUBTYPES IN THE WISC-III STANDARDIZATION SAMPLE - ANALYSIS OFFACTOR INDEX SCORES

Representative profile subtypes, based on factor index scores, were ex amined in the standardization sample of the Wechsler Intelligence Scal e for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III; Wechsler, 1991). Two-stage clu ster analysis identified 5 reliable subtypes. Three of these were diff erentiated by levels of performance (ranging from below average, to av erage, to above average); the other 2 were characterized by patterns o f performance, with relative efficacy on the processing speed factor b eing the most prominent distinction (ranging from a relative weakness to a relative strength), The cluster subtypes did not differ significa ntly in age, but parental level of education covaried directly with le vel of WISC-III performance. A method for determining the relative uni queness of clinically obtained WISC-III factor index score patterns is presented.