Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the WAIS-R: Plausibility of Models

Abstract

A confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the respective viability of factor structure models for the WAIS-R standardization data. The traditional Verbal-Performance split was compared to an alternative model proposed by Gutkin, Reynolds, and Galvin (1984). The confirmatory analysis indicated that the Gutkin model provides a superior fit to the data at all age levels and for the total sample. In addition, the results from Gutkin model analyses at each age level were iterated, yielding a refinement in the respective age-specific fits of the model. Implications for test interpretation are discussed.