Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the discriminant function analysis of the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale responses of normal and abnormal groups. Of special interest was to verify the clinical discriminant power of two subtests of the KWIS (Vacabulary and Digit Symbols) and Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale. The normal, group was composed of 150 college students and the abnormal group 150 schizophrenic patients. The normal group had a mean age of 22.1 years(SD=4.5) and a mean of 13.9 years of education(SD=2.8) and the abnormal group had a mean age of 29.6 years(SD=8. 4) and a mean of 10.4 years of education (SD=4.6). The major statistical method employed was Stepwise Discriminant .Function Analysis, Four major hypotheses were postulated., The normal group would show higher than the abnormal group; mean scores on both Vocabulary and Digit Symbol, The mean difference in Digit Symbol between the two groups would be greater than that in the Vacabulary. There would he no significant relationships among Digit Symbol, Vacabulary, and Anxiety. The most powerful Discriminant power is expected from subtest of Digit Symbol. The results of analysis confirmed all of the four hypotheses. It was further revealed that the discriminating power of Anxiety Scale did not reach significance level. Discriminant analysis showed that group centroids for normal group fell on negative direction and that for the abnormal group on positive direction, From the findings it was concluded that both Digit Symbol and Vocabulary scales had strong diagnostic value but the former was more powerful than the latter. However, the Anxiety scales had less diagnostic value.