Higher-order exploratory factor analysis of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales with a referred sample

The factor structure of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS; [Reynolds, C.R., & Kamphaus, R.W. (2003). Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.]) was investigated with a large (N=1163) independent sample of referred students (ages 6–18). More rigorous factor extraction criteria (viz., Horn's parallel analysis (HPA); [Horn, J.L. (1965). A rationale and test for the number of factors in factor analysis. Psychometrika, 30, 179–185.], and Minimum Average Partial (MAP) analysis; [Velicer, W.F. (1976). Determining the number of components from the matrix of partial correlations. Psychometrika, 41, 321–327.]), in addition to those used in RIAS development, were investigated. Exploratory factor analyses using both orthogonal and oblique rotations and higher-order exploratory factor analyses using the Schmid and Leiman [Schmid, J., and Leiman, J.M. (1957). The development of hierarchical factor solutions. Psychometrika, 22, 53–61.] procedure were conducted. All factor extraction criteria indicated extraction of only one factor. Oblique rotations resulted in different results than orthogonal rotations, and higher-order factor analysis indicated the largest amount of Journal of School Psychology 45 (2007) 439–456 ⁎ Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Skaggs Building 203, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. Tel.: +1 406 243 4527; fax: +1 406 243 6366. E-mail address: [email protected] (J.M. Nelson). 0022-4405/$ see front matter © 2007 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2007.03.003 Au th or 's pe rs on al co py variance was accounted for by the general intelligence factor. The proposed three-factor solution was not supported. Implications for the use of the RIAS with similarly referred students are discussed. © 2007 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.