Configural frequency analysis as a method of determining Wechsler profile types

From the outset of multiscore test batteries such as the Wechsler scales, there has been scholarly debate regarding whether there is adequate empirical foundation for the practice of profile analysis, a uniquely clinical practice that focuses on distinguishing between groups of participants based on the participants' configuration or pattern of test scores. Clinicians who focus on the relationship between groups of participants appear to support the clinical practice of profile analysis, whereas statisticians who focus on the relation between variables strongly oppose the practice. This article demonstrates that the apparent lack of empirical support for the practice of profile analysis has stemmed in part from the use of statistical techniques that have neglected to explore the perspective of the clinician and, instead, largely have explored the perspective of the statistician. Through the application of Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA), a statistical technique that focuses on the relationships among groups of participants as the unit of analysis, this article explores an alternative empirical approach to the clinical practice of profile analysis.