This study literature reviewed academic publications reporting the performance measured by the Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (K-WPPSI) to investigate Korean children's intellectual characteristics. First of all, prior to ...
This study literature reviewed academic publications reporting the performance measured by the Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (K-WPPSI) to investigate Korean children's intellectual characteristics. First of all, prior to analyzing Korean children's intellectual characteristics, I categorized these publications by the published year, the number of participants(n), ages of participants, and participant grouping (either general children and exceptional children) and organized them.
Second, I analyzed the performances measured by the Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence(K-WPPSI) (Park, Kwak, Park, 1996b), Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV (K-WPPSI-IV) (Park, Lee, Ahn, 2016), Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III(K-WISC-III) (Kwak, Park, Kim, 2001b), and Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV(K-WISC-IV) (Kwak, Oh, Kim, 2011) by focusing on subtests, indexes, and the levels of IQ to analyze Korean children's intellectual characteristics.
The research outcomes are summarized as follows.
First, I found the total of 4 publications reporting on both the general children and exceptional children's performance among the 70 publications reporting on performances measured by the K-WPPSI, which include 46 publications measuring performances of the general children and 20 publications measuring those of the exceptional children. The numbers of participants on the general children varied from n=1 to 360, which averaged n=64. The participants' ages ranged from 3 to 7. Among the result of performances on the subtests, the Geometric Design showed the highest scores (M=12.73(SD=3.92)) and the Vocabulary showed the lowest scores (M=9.79(SD=2.57)). By the performances of the IQ indexes, the Performance Intelligence Quotient(PIQ) (M=103.68(SD=16.53)) and Vocabulary Intelligence Quotient(VIQ) (M=103.68(SD=14.82)) showed similar scores and the mean of the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient(FIQ) was 103.23(SD=15.06).
The numbers of the exceptional children whose performances measured by the K-WPPSI varied from n=1 to 40, and the average was n=11. The participants' ages ranged from 3 to 13. By performances of the subtests, the Information showed the highest scores (M=7.01(SD=1.73)) and the Geometric Design showed the lowest scores (M=5.50(SD=2.12)). By performances of the IQ indexes, PIQ(M=81.45(SD=14.00)) showed the higher scores than the VIQ(M=77.56(SD=12.92)), and the average of the FIQ was 82.61(SD=10.37).
Finding the between-group similarity as to the performances measured by the K-WPPSI, both the general children and exceptional children showed the higher scores on the performances of the PIQ than VIQ. The intellectual characteristics of Korean children whose age ranges suitable for the K-WPPSI greatly represent the ability that is influenced by genetic and biological factors rather than experiential or learning factors. Whereas searching the between-group difference, the general children showed the highest scores on the Geographic Design, but the exceptional children showed the lowest scores on the performance of the Geographic Design. The younger general children showed the higher ability in visual memorization and visual-motor integration, yet the exceptional children showed lower abilities in these categories than the general children.
Second, the number of publications reporting the performances measured by the K-WPPSI-IV was 10 and all were subjected to the general children. The numbers of participants on the general children varied from n=36 to 148, which averaged n=88. The participants' ages were 2 to 7. By performances of the subtests, the Bug Search showed the highest scores(M=12.24(SD=2.75)) and the lowest scores(M=8.32(SD=2.51)). By performances of the basic indexes, the Processing Speed Index(PSI) showed the highest scores(M=108.65(SD=13.29)) and Verbal Comprehension Index(VCI) showed the lowest scores(M=97.44(SD=13.68)). The average performance of the FSIQ was 104.30(SD=12.85).
Comparing the performance outcomes of the general children measured equally by the K-WPPSI and K-WPPSI-IV, both examinations showed the lowest scores on the VCI. The intellectual characteristics of the younger general children were associated with a lack of vocabulary and language expression ability. On the other hand, the K-WPPSI showed the highest scores on the Geographic Design, and similarly, the highest scores were shown on the Bug Search that was conducted in a similar manner of measuring the Geographic Design outcomes, although I acknowledge that the Geographic Design was excluded on the K-WPPSI-IV so that it might not be possible to directly compare to one another. It could be interpreted that the intellectual characteristics of the younger general children were associated with the superior ability in visual memorization, visual-motor integration.
Third, among the total of 88 publications reporting the performance outcomes measured by the K-WISC-III, 14 studies examined both the general and exceptional children, 16 studies solely conducted to the general children and the rest of 58 examined the exceptional children. The numbers of the general children participants ranged from n=1 to 357, which averaged n=62. The ages of the participants were from 3 to 16.
By the subtests, the Similarities showed the highest scores M=11.01(SD=2.99)) and the Digit Span resulted in the lowest scores (M=8.85(SD=2.25)). By the indexes, the VCI showed the highest scores (M=103.35(SD=12.42)), and the PSI resulted in the lowest scores(M=100.14(SD=13.50)). By performances of the IQs, VIQ(M=104.07(SD=14.84)) showed the higher scores than the PIQ(M=102.26(SD=14.87)) and the FIQ score was 102.89(SD=14.07).
The numbers of participants in the studies conducting the K-WISC-III to exceptional children varied from n=1 to 297 and the average was n=38. These participants' ages were 5 to 16. Performances by the subtests showed that the Similarities was the highest(M=10.25(SD=2.71)) and the Mazes was the lowest(M=7.55(SD=2.74)). Performances by the indexes proved that the Perceptual Organization Index(POI) was the highest M=92.30(SD=15.68)), the Freedom from Distractibility Index(FDI) was the lowest(M=90.38(SD=14.75)). Performances by IQs resulted that VIQ(M=93.59(SD=13.95)) was higher than the PIQ(M=91.82(SD=14.09)) and the average performance FIQ was 90.60(SD=13.25).
Looking up the between-group similarity of the performances measured by the K-WISC-III, both the general children and exceptional children reached to the highest scores on the Similarities subtest. The Korean children whose age ranges suitable for the K-WISC-III had the superior ability in verbal conceptual formation and reasoning. Additionally, the similar outcome was also convinced that both of them performing higher VIQ scores than PIQ scores. The intellectual characteristics of the older Korean children showed the advanced ability in verbal knowledge and number concepts that are influenced by experience and learning. Whereas the performance difference of the between-group was that the general children scored the lowest in the Digit Span subtest, but the exceptional children performed the lowest in the Mazes subtest. The intellectual characteristics of the older general children showed limited attention, concentration, and short-term memory. Whereas the exceptional children showed the lacks of intellectual characteristics in planning, visual-motor integration, speed, and precision.
Fourth, among the 15 publications adapted the K-WISC-IV, the total of 4 publications both examined the general children and exceptional children, another 5 studies conducted to the general children, and the rest of 6 studied with the exceptional children. The numbers of the participants in the studies relevant to the general children ranged from n=6 to 200, which the average was n=39. The participants' ages ranged from 4 to 16. Performances by the subtests showed that scores of the Cancellation were the highest (M=12.50(SD=5.41)) and the Coding scores were the lowest (M=9.04(SD=2.74)). Performances by the indexes showed that the PRI scored the highest (M=99.76(SD=14.19)) and the PSI scored the lowest(M=95.24(SD=14.07)). The FSIQ performance average was 97.05(SD=13.43).
The numbers of participants in the studies conducting the K-WISC-IV to the exceptional children varied from n=1 to 91, which averaged n=22. The participants' ages varied from 5 to 19. Performances by the subtests showed that the Picture Completion scored the highest(M=8.63(SD=3.39)) and the Letter-Number Sequencing scored the lowest(M=6.34(SD=2.72)). Performances by the indexes showed that the PRI scored the highest (M=88.64(SD=14.82)) and the PSI scored the lowest(M=81.26(SD=12.89)). The FSIQ performance average was 79.72(SD=7.66).
Looking up the commonality of the between group measured by the K-WISC-IV, both the general children and exceptional children scored the highest on the PRI and the lowest on the PSI. The intellectual characteristics of Korean children whose age ranges suitable to using the K-WISC-IV showed the superior ability in perception construction, spatial perception, and reasoning, but they were relatively deficient at mental acuity, visual memorization. While the difference of the between-group was that the general children showed the lowest scores in the Coding subtest and the exceptional children scored the lowest in the Letter-Number Sequencing subtest. The older general children lacked in the mental acuity, yet the exception children showed the limited mental control and concentration.
Comparing the performance outcomes of the general children and exceptional children measured by both K-WISC-III and K-WISC-IV, the general children showed the lowest scores on the PSI in the both examinations. Additionally, similar outcomes were found that the exceptional children scored higher on the performances by the factors and indexes than the FSIQ performances. The older general children showed a relatively less intellectual ability in mental acuity and short-term memory. On the other hand, I found the similar outcome that the exceptional children showed a lower ability in both examinations of the Coding subtest. This result can be interpreted that the older exceptional children may lack mental acuity and visual-motor integration.
As comparing the outcomes of the general children and exceptional children measured by the K-WPPSI and K-WISC-III, both groups scored higher on the PIQ than the VIQ in the K-WPPSI. In particular, scores on the subtests of the Object Assembly and Picture Completion were high. On the other hand, in the case of the K-WISC, the PIQ scores were lower than the VIQ scores. In particular, scores on the Information, Similarities, Arithmetics, and Vocabulary were relatively high. The younger Korean children showed the superior ability in visual memorization that was greatly determined by genetic and biological factors, yet the older children gradually made an improvement in the numeric concept or verbal ability influenced by experience or learning.
Comparing the K-WPPSI-IV and K-WISC-III performances of the general children, it showed that the PSI showed the highest scores in the K-WPPSI-IV and the VCI scored the lowest in the K-WISC-III. Whereas the VCI showed the highest scores in the K-WISC-III and the PSI reached to the lowest scores. The younger Korean children have gradually improved verbal ability that is influenced by experience or learning.
In conclusion, this study significantly contributes to the children's intellectual characteristic research through the comprehensive literature review of the studies relevant to performances measured by the K-WPPSI, K-WPPSI-IV, K-WISC-III, and K-WISC-IV. Additionally, it not only provides baseline data of Korean children's intellectual characteristics but also suggests some potential research directions for the future.
Keywords: General children, Exceptional children, Intellectual characteristics, Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence(K-WPPSI), Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth edition(K-WPPSI-IV), Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third edition(K-WISC-III), Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth edition(K-WISC-IV)