Exploratory Factor Analyses of the French WISC-V (WISC-V^FR) for Five Age Groups: Analyses Based on the...

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is a widely used measure of child intelligence.
• Understanding its factor structure across different age groups is crucial for accurate interpretation.
• Previous research has explored the WISC-V structure, but specific investigations into the French standardization sample are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factor structure of the French WISC-V in five age groups.
• To examine the publisher's proposed five-factor model and the distinction between Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning factors.
• To assess the proportion of variance attributable to general intelligence versus group factors and test the age differentiation hypothesis.

Main Methods:

• Hierarchical exploratory factor analysis was employed.
• The Schmid-Leiman procedure was applied to the factor analysis results.
• Data were analyzed across five age groups: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-16 years.

Main Results:

• A four-factor solution appeared sufficient across all investigated age groups.
• Evidence did not support the publisher's claim of five first-order factors.
• The distinction between Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning factors was not supported by the data.
• A general intelligence factor accounted for the majority of variance, with first-order factors explaining smaller unique portions.
• The age differentiation hypothesis was not supported, as the number of factors and the variance explained by the general factor remained consistent across age groups.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a four-factor structure may be more appropriate for the French WISC-V than the proposed five-factor model.
• The study challenges the distinctiveness of Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning factors within this sample.
• Results do not support the age differentiation hypothesis, indicating a stable structure across development in this age range.