WISC-R information and Digit Span scores of American and Canadian children

Abstract

This study investigated differences in performance between third-grade American and Canadian children on two subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). The Information subtest, which is culturally laden, and the Digit Span subtest, which is less subject to cultural factors, were administered to 30 American and 30 Canadian children. Mean Information scores in the two groups were not significantly different, but Canadian children scored significantly higher on Digit Span. This difference was attributable to their higher mean score on Digit Span Forward. Canadian and American Digit Span Backward mean scores did not differ. Results are discussed in terms of Canadian and American educational and test-taking experiences.