Comparative study of factor structure of Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices

The Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices were administered on group or individual bases to children ranging in age from 4 yr. 9 mo. to 11 yr. 0 mo. (N = 728). Factor analysis yielded three factors: 1. Perceptual closure involving complex figures and patterns with heterogeneous inner structures, 2. Concrete and abstract reasoning, 3. Completion of homogeneous patterns and recognition of given elements. Factor matrix comparisons across age groups resulted in a mean similarity coefficient of .75. Comparisons of data with earlier analyses also resulted in high similarity. This supports the hypothesis of a three-factor structure rather than a four-factor solution or a simple dual classification into items which can be solved by perceptual processes and those which require conceptual solutions.