A reconceptualization and revised scoring procedure for the ITPA based on multivariate analysis of the original...

This research was conducted to (1) determine whether a factor analysis of the original normative ITPA data would support the dimensions of Osgood's psycholinguistic model which provides its theoretical base, (2) investigate the need for constructing psycholinguistic profiles based upon this empirical factor structure rather than upon a priori theoretical "facet structure", and (3) devise a weighted multiple regression formula for estimating psycholinguistic age based on subtest correlations with chronological age for the original normative group. Whereas five factors were anticipated, one of these split into two components. The factors represented the (1) perceptual process at the representation level, accounting for 8% of the variance; (2) perceptual process at the integration level, 6.5%; (3) organizing process at the representation level, 25%; and (4) expressive process at the integration level, 11%. The expected integration-organizing factor split into (5) auditory memory, 9%, and (6) visual memory, 9%. As anticipated, no emergent factor represented the expressive at the representation level. The emergent factor structure strongly suggests that the use of factor profiles would be more meaningful than the use of subtest profiles. A multiple regression formula is presented for computing psycholinguistic age equivalents.