ERIC Number: EJ1004973
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-3830
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Investigating the Structure of the WJ-III Cognitive at School Age
Dombrowski, Stefan C.
School Psychology Quarterly, v28 n2 p154-169 Jun 2013
During its development, the Woodcock-Johnson, Third Edition Cognitive (WJ-III Cognitive; McGrew & Woodcock, 2001) was never subjected to structural analysis using exploratory and higher order factor analyses. Instead, confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on separate sets of WJ-III correlation matrices, yielding a seven-factor model across all age ranges. To see whether the structure holds for the WJ-III Cognitive, currently recognized best practice exploratory factor analysis (EFA) procedures were applied to two school-aged correlation matrices (ages 9-13; 14-19) from the normative sample. Using EFA and higher order factor analysis, four factors emerged at age 9 to 13 and three factors emerged at age 14 to 19. The results of this analysis indicated a robust manifestation of general intelligence (g) that exceeded the variance attributed to the lower order factors. An additional analysis was conducted that disregarded factor extraction rules and forced the seven-factor fit. The resulting solution was only partially aligned (i.e., Gc, Ga, and Gsm) with the theoretical structure posited in the WJ-III Technical Manual. Surprisingly, this study represents the first time to my knowledge that the WJ-III Cognitive has been subjected to EFA analyses given the instrument's significant use by practitioners and that it has served as the initial evidentiary base for Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Cognitive Tests, Factor Analysis, Factor Structure, Theories, Cognitive Ability, Intelligence, Children, Adolescents, Age Groups, Age Differences
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Woodcock Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A