Canadian content in the WISC--R: Bias or jingoism?

Abstract
This paper reviews the literature concerning Canadian substitute items in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and reports data showing that psychologists do use substitutes and that the substitutes are used and scored inconsistently. Studies comparing the scores of Canadian children on the Information subtest of the WISC-R to the normative sample have provided inadequate evidence of disadvantage to Canadian children on the items for which substitutes have been proposed. Comparisons of Canadian children''s scores on the Canadian substitute items and on the standard items seem to indicate instead that Canadian substitute items produce inflated scores. A sample of Canadian psychologists report using at least some Canadian substitute item. Beyond simple substitution, they often use and score both the standard and the Canadian items, further comprising the validity of the test. There are inadequate data to establish the need for Canadian substitute items, and appropriate substitutes of equivalent difficulty have not been identified. Canadian examiners are urged to adhere to the standard administration and scoring of the test.

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