Orthogonal Higher Order Structure of the WISC-IV Spanish Using Hierarchical Exploratory Factor Analytic Procedures

As recommended by Carroll, the present study examined the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition Spanish (WISC-IV Spanish) normative sample using higher order exploratory factor analytic techniques not included in the WISC-IV Spanish Technical Manual. Results indicated that the WISC-IV Spanish subtests were properly aligned with theoretically proposed factors; however, application of the Schmid and Leiman procedure found that the g factor accounted for large portions of total and common variance, whereas the four first-order factors accounted for small portions of total and common variance. Implications for clinical interpretation of the measurement instrument are discussed.