The Validity of the Senior South African Individual Scale-Revised (SSAIS-R) for Different Population Groups

Abstract

The Senior South African Individual Scale-Revised (SSAIS-R) was developed jointly for coloured, white and Indian pupils. The functioning of the scale for a sample in which the three population groups were represented proportionally is described in the test manual. In the present study the validity of the scale for each group was investigated by performing factor analyses and by obtaining correlations with other intelligence tests and examination scores. The results demonstrated the construct and predictive validity of the SSAIS-R for each group. Although the factor structures corresponded for the groups, coefficients of congruence indicated that the construct being measured differed to some extent for some age groups. Differences in correlations with external criteria between the various groups imply that the value of the scale for classification according to intellectual level and for the prediction of academic achievement also varied to some extent for the respective groups. The scale may safely be used in educational situations to differentiate between pupils within any one population group. However, the results of the study should be kept in mind when norms are used to differentiate between members of the three population groups.