The hierarchical factor structure of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence.

Abstract

A Wherry-Wherry hierarchical factor analysis was performed on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) subtest intercorrelatlons reported by Wechsler for each of the six age groups included in the standardization sample. A hierarchical arrangement of abilities highly congruent with Vernon's structure of intellect theory was obtained. The obtained arrangement consisted of a strong general intelligence factor defined by positive loadings from all subtests and two subgeneral factors: a verbal-educational factor defined by the verbal subtests and a spatial-perceptual factor defined by the performance subtests. The factor structure remained stable across age groups thus contradicting the differentiation hypothesis. These findings not only support the construct validity of the WPPSI as a general intelligence assessor but also provide some support for maintaining separate verbal and performance IQs.

The hierarchical factor structure of the WAIS-R for alcoholic adults

“…The higher-order factor summarized in Table 1 can be equated easily with the general intelligence construct (g), which has received worldwide attention from cognitive theorists since its original formulation by Spearman (1904). General intelligence has been defined implicitly as the pervasive overlap among diverse intelligence assessors (Wallbrown et al, 1973) within recent hierarchical theory. The loadings of the WAIS-R subtests on this factor were in clear agreement with this hierarchical interpretation of g. The magnitude of the general factor loadings ranged from .86 for Vocabulary to .54 for Picture Completion.…”

Hierarchical analyses of the WISC and WISC-R: synthesis and clinical implications

“…The Wherry (1959) method for hierarchical factor analysis used in all of these studies is especially useful for determining the structural relationships among ability dimensions (Haynes, 1970;Wallbrown, Blaha, & Wherry, 1973). As noted by , "the Wherry and Wherry (1969) solution provides an objective procedure for obtaining a hierarchical ability arrangement if, in fact, such an ability arrangement is congruent with the data" (p. 73).…”

“…As noted by Wallbrown et al (1973), the Wherry and Wherry (1969) computer solution provides several advantages for investigators who are interested in deriving clinical hypotheses from factor analytic research. (See Wherry, in press for a more thorough treatment of this topic.)…”

Factor structure of the WPPSI in mental health clinic settings

“…Few, if any, published studies have examined the factor structure of the WPPSI with emotionally disturbed children. As Wallbrown et al (1973) note, the results of normal or standardization Ss cannot be assumed to be the same as for children seen in clinical settings. Children evaluated in such settings often are referred because of cognitive, perceptual, attentional or related deficits and problems.…”

“…Some research on the standardization data (Ramanaiah & Adams, 1979) has utilized confirmatory factor-analytic techniques (multiple-group method), which yielded a unique solution with no rotation. Wallbrown, Blaha, and Wherry (1973) utilized hierarchical factor-analysis on the same data.…”