Wais factorial structure and factor scores for ages 18 to 54

Abstract The use of statistical criteria of factor extraction throws doubt on earlier factorial studies of the WAIS, which either extracted too many (Cohen) or too few factors (Maxwell). Cohen's averaging of dissimilar correlation matrices for ages 60‐75+ was invalid. Within the samples analysed, and contrary to these earlier studies, the factor structure of the WAIS becomes more complex as age increases (2 factors at ages 18‐19; 3 at 25‐34; and 5 at 45‐54), although probably it measures the “general intellective” factor equally well at all ages. Estimates of uncorrelated factor scores are shown to be likely to be more useful generally than a priori subscale IQs or subtest pattern analyses, both of which ignore subtest intercorrelations.