College student performance on the general ability measure for adults and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults-Third Edition

This study examined the concurrent validity of the General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA(1): Naglieri & Bardos. 1997) and the Wechsler Adult Intell igence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III: Wechsler, 1997). Sixty college studen ts were administered both instruments in counterbalanced order. A compariso n of the mean scores on the GAMA and WAIS-III indicated that the sample obt ained similar GAMA and WAIS-III PIQ scores. In contrast. the sample's mean GAMA IQ score was significantly lower than the sample's mean FSIQ and VIQ s cores. Although the GAMA IQ score was positively correlated with all WAIS-I II IQ and Index scores, this new instrument was more clearly associated wit h visual-spatial reasoning, as defined by the WAIS-III PIQ. The GAMA's accu racy in predicting performance on the WAIS-III FSIQ and PIQ also was examin ed, with the GAMA underestimating WAIS-III FSIQ and PIQ scores for particip ants falling within the Superior and Very Superior range of intellectual fu nctioning. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.