---
title: Evolution and Revolution in CHC Theory and the WJ IV
description: The influence of the CHC theory framework on the WJ IV™ represents evolutionary and revolutionary thinking about theory and test design and organization.
---

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# [Evolution and Revolution in CHC Theory and the WJ IV](https://blog.riversideinsights.com/chc-theory-wjiv)

 Written by [Kevin S. McGrew, Ph. D.](https://blog.riversideinsights.com/author/kevin-s-mcgrew-ph-d) | Apr 16, 2019 4:38:00 PM

The **Woodcock-Johnson® IV** (**WJ IV**™) (Schrank, McGrew, & Mather, 2014a) represents evolutionary and revolutionary thinking about CHC theory and its application to contemporary assessment practice. The **WJ IV** goes “beyond CHC theory” as it was initially specified. School psychologists have responded positively to the **WJ IV** changes and often want to know what drove such a major revision in theory and test design and organization. Three examples are provided.

The Woodcock-Johnson IV goes beyond the initial specifications of CHC theory—it is grounded in the most current elaboration, extension, and prospective evolution of the theory. In addition to a reconfigured set of tests for measuring general intelligence and specific cognitive abilities, the **WJ IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities** (**WJ IV COG**) (Schrank, McGrew, & Mather, 2014b) establishes the cutting edge of assessment practice by focusing on measuring the most important cognitive abilities.

The **WJ IV** design blueprint channeled the intellectually curious spirits of Cattell, Horn, and Carroll, who “would not idly stand by and let the current consensus-based theory calcify and suffer from hardening of the CHC categories” (Schneider & McGrew, 2012, p. 138). In addition, the WJ IV incorporates ideas from contemporary cognitive neuroscience research and CHC state-of-the-art research syntheses. The analysis of the WJ IV’s 50 different cognitive, language, and achievement tests in the WJ IV norm data revealed “aha” insights into previously under-appreciated or unrecognized narrow CHC abilities.

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