99 Ways to Obtain a General Factor of Intelligence--And They Are Not All Created Equal
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| Title: | 99 Ways to Obtain a General Factor of Intelligence--And They Are Not All Created Equal |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Moritz Breit (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. 2025 43(8):918-932. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Cognitive Ability, Cognitive Tests, Intelligence, Correlation, Factor Analysis, Educational Indicators, Generalizability Theory |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Woodcock Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability |
| DOI: | 10.1177/07342829251380405 |
| ISSN: | 0734-2829 1557-5144 |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether general intelligence (g) factors derived from different test batteries are equivalent. There are three views regarding the equivalency of g-factors: (1) "indicator indifference" claims that test content is irrelevant as long as g loadings are identical and that single tests can be adequate indicators of g; (2) "complete dependence on test composition" claims that general factors are completely dependent on the tests from which they are extracted; and (3) an intermediate stance that emphasizes the importance of the diversity and comprehensiveness of cognitive test batteries from which g is obtained. The present study evaluates these competing views by analyzing g-factor correlations across all combinatorically possible combinations of subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities V. Results showed strong correlations among g-factors across both one-factor and hierarchical models, increasing with the number of subtests or broad abilities included. Most g-factors closely matched the g-estimate obtained from all available subtests (r > 0.9). Low correlations were mainly tied to the overrepresentation of processing speed (Gs) in small test sets, highlighting the impact of content coverage. Overall, results support the intermediate view: reliable g-estimates require broad, balanced batteries covering at least three broad abilities. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1491273 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether general intelligence (g) factors derived from different test batteries are equivalent. There are three views regarding the equivalency of g-factors: (1) "indicator indifference" claims that test content is irrelevant as long as g loadings are identical and that single tests can be adequate indicators of g; (2) "complete dependence on test composition" claims that general factors are completely dependent on the tests from which they are extracted; and (3) an intermediate stance that emphasizes the importance of the diversity and comprehensiveness of cognitive test batteries from which g is obtained. The present study evaluates these competing views by analyzing g-factor correlations across all combinatorically possible combinations of subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities V. Results showed strong correlations among g-factors across both one-factor and hierarchical models, increasing with the number of subtests or broad abilities included. Most g-factors closely matched the g-estimate obtained from all available subtests (r > 0.9). Low correlations were mainly tied to the overrepresentation of processing speed (Gs) in small test sets, highlighting the impact of content coverage. Overall, results support the intermediate view: reliable g-estimates require broad, balanced batteries covering at least three broad abilities. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0734-2829 1557-5144 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/07342829251380405 |
