Final answer:
The WAIS-IV is a comprehensive intelligence test that determines an individual's overall level of intellectual functioning. The composite index with the highest score indicates an individual's strongest cognitive ability, which represents their overall level of intellectual functioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The WAIS-IV is a comprehensive intelligence test that assesses an individual's overall level of intellectual functioning. To determine which WAIS-IV composite index should be used to characterize an individual's overall level of intellectual functioning, each of the five indices (Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Fluid Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed) is examined. The composite index that shows the highest score indicates the individual's strongest cognitive ability and can be used to characterize their overall level of intellectual functioning.