Cited by 94Psychometric Methodologies and TestingCognitive Abilities and TestingDevelopmental and Educational Neuropsychology

Further insights on the French WISC–IV factor structure through Bayesian structural equation modeling.

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Golay, Philippe, Reverte, Isabelle, Rossier, Jérôme, Favez, Nicolas, Lecerf, Thierry·2013·Psychological Assessment

Abstract

The interpretation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is based on a 4-factor model, which is only partially compatible with the mainstream Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence measurement. The structure of cognitive batteries is frequently analyzed via exploratory factor analysis and/or confirmatory factor analysis. With classical confirmatory factor analysis, almost all cross-loadings between latent variables and measures are fixed to zero in order to allow the model to be identified. However, inappropriate zero cross-loadings can contribute to poor model fit, distorted factors, and biased factor correlations; most important, they do not necessarily faithfully reflect theory. To deal with these methodological and theoretical limitations, we used a new statistical approach, Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM), among a sample of 249 French-speaking Swiss children (8-12 years). With BSEM, zero-fixed cross-loadings between latent variables and measures are replaced by approximate zeros, based on informative, small-variance priors. Results indicated that a direct hierarchical CHC-based model with 5 factors plus a general intelligence factor better represented the structure of the WISC-IV than did the 4-factor structure and the higher order models. Because a direct hierarchical CHC model was more adequate, it was concluded that the general factor should be considered as a breadth rather than a superordinate factor. Because it was possible for us to estimate the influence of each of the latent variables on the 15 subtest scores, BSEM allowed improvement of the understanding of the structure of intelligence tests and the clinical interpretation of the subtest scores.

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  • The CHC based five-factor oblique model and a higher order structure of this model have been supported when all 15 WISC-IV subtests were examined.

    “The CHC based five-factor oblique model and a higher order structure of this model have also been supported when all 15 (core and supplementary) WISC-IV subtests were examined (Keith et al., 2006; Chen et al., 2009; Golay et al., 2013).”

    From Structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition in a Group of Children with ADHD (2016) · cites this paper as Golay et al., 2013

    The BSEM tested models section (page unavailable) specifies a CHC-based five-factor model using all 15 listed WISC-IV subtests. The Results report improved fit for that model when cross-loadings were allowed and refer to the five factors’ loadings on a general factor. Our copy does not establish that a separate CHC five-factor oblique model and its higher-order counterpart were both supported; its explicitly paired oblique and higher-order models are four-factor WISC-IV models. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • For all 15 subtests, support has been reported for the CHC/five-factor model and CHC/higher order factor model.

    “For all 15 subtests, support has also been reported for the CHC/five-factor model and CHC/ higher order factor model (Chen et al., 2009; Keith et al., 2006; Golay et al., 2013).”

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  1. Muthén, L.K. and Muthén, B.O. (1998-2010). Mplus User's Guide. Sixth Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén Asparouhov, T. (2010). Bayesian analysis using Mplus. Technical appendix. Los Angeles: Muthén & Muthén.

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Authors
Golay, P., Reverte, I., Rossier, J., Favez, N., & Lecerf, T.
Affiliations
  • University of Geneva (CH)
  • University of Lausanne (CH)
Venue
Psychological Assessment
Published
2013-06
Volume
25
Issue
2
Pages
496-508
ISSN
  • 1040-3590 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-134X
OpenAlex
W2125514837
Cited by
94
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 13
FWCI
12.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Psychological Assessment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Swiss National Science Foundation (100014-118248)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Keywords
WISC-IV, factor structure, Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory, general intelligence factor, cross-loadings, Bayesian structural equation modeling, cognitive ability, children, subtest scores, French-speaking children
MeSH terms
Bayes Theorem, Child, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Psychometrics, Switzerland, Wechsler Scales

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