Skip to main content
Original Article

CHC Model According to Weiss

Evidence From the WAIS-IV Administration to Italian Adults and Elders

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000249

Abstract. The Italian version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) – was standardized using a sample of 2,174 participants, aged between 16 and 90 years. The WAIS-IV consists of 10 core subtests and 5 supplemental subtests. While the 70–90 yr group is usually excluded from three of the five supplemental subtests (Letter-Number Sequencing, Figure Weights, and Cancellation), we administered all 15 subtests both to adults and elderly people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factorial invariance of the Weiss and colleagues’ hierarchical five-factor CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) model in Italian adults and elders. The overall results of this study generally support both the configural and factorial invariance of the WAIS-IV, and hence the five-factor CHC model of Weiss is equivalent in adults and elderly people. However, for the elderly sample we found higher loadings of WAIS-IV subtests on the second-order g factor.

References

  • Alfonso, V. C., Flanagan, D. P. & Radwan, S. (2005). The impact of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory on test development and interpretation of cognitive and academic abilities. In D. P. FlanaganP. L. HarrisonEds., Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (3rd ed., pp. 185–202). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Benson, N., Hulac, D. M. & Kranzler, J. H. (2010). Independent examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV): What does the WAIS-IV measure? Psychological Assessment, 22, 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017767 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Bentler, P. M. (2005). EQS 6 structural equations program manual. Encino, CA: Multivariate Software. Retrieved from http://www.mvsoft.com First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Bickley, P. G., Keith, T. Z. & Wolfe, L. M. (1995). The three-stratum theory of cognitive abilities: Test of the structure of intelligence across the life span. Intelligence, 20, 309–328. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Carroll, J. B. (1993). Human cognitive abilities: A survey of factor-analytic studies. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Chen, F. F., Sousa, H. K. & West, S. G. (2005). Testing measurement invariance of second-order factor models. Structural Equation Modeling, 12, 471–492. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1203_7 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Cheung, G. W. & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 233–255. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_5 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Danthiir, V., Roberts, R. D., Pallier, G. & Stankov, L. (2001). What the nose knows: Olfaction and cognitive abilities. Intelligence, 29, 337–361. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022877405718 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • de Frias, C. M., Lovden, M., Lindenberger, U. & Nilsson, L. G. (2007). Revisiting the dedifferentiation hypothesis with longitudinal multi-cohort data. Intelligence, 35, 381–392. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.intell.2006.07.011 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Flanagan, D. P. & Dixon, S. G. (2013). The Cattell-Horn-Carrol theory of cognitive abilities. In C. R. ReynoldsK. J. VannestE. Fletcher-JanzenEds., Encyclopedia of Special Education (Vol. 1, pp. 368–382). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Flanagan, D. P.Harrison, P. L.Eds. (2012). Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Flanagan, D. P., McGrew, K. S. & Ortiz, S. (2000). The Wechsler intelligence scales and CHC theory: A contemporary approach to interpretation. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Ghisletta, P. & de Ribaupierre, A. A. (2005). A dynamic investigation of cognitive dedifferentiation with control for retest: Evidence from the Swiss interdisciplinary longitudinal study on the oldest old. Psychology and Aging, 2, 671–682. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Ghisletta, P. & Lindenberger, U. (2003). Age-based structural dynamics between perceptual speed and knowledge in the Berlin aging study: Direct evidence for ability dedifferentiation in old age. Psychology and Aging, 18, 696–713. https://doi.org/ 10.1037/0882-7974.18.4.696 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Gustafsson, J. E. & Balke, G. (1993). General and specific abilities as predictors of school achievement. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 28, 407–434. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr2804_2 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Hempel, C. G. (1965). Aspects of scientific explanation and other essays in the philosophy of science. New York, NY: The Free Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Horn, J. L. & Noll, J. (1997). Human cognitive capabilities: Gf-Gc theory. In D. P. FlanaganJ. L. GensaftP. L. HarrisonEds., Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (pp. 53–91). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Keith, T. Z. (1997). Using confirmatory factor analysis to aid in understanding the constructs measured by intelligence tests. In D. P. FlanaganJ. L. GenshaftP. L. HarrisonEds., Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (pp. 373–402). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Keith, T. Z. (1999). Effects of general and specific abilities on student achievement: Similarities and differences across ethnic groups. School Psychology Quarterly, 14, 239–262. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0089008 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Lichtenberger, E. O. & Kaufman, A. S. (2013). Essentials of WAIS-IV assessment (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • McGrew, K. S. (1997). Analysis of the major intelligence batteries according to a proposed comprehensive Gf-Gc framework. In D. P. FlanaganJ. L. GenshaftP. L. HarrisonEds., Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (pp. 151–180). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • McGrew, K. S. (2009). CHC theory and the human cognitive abilities project: Standing on the shoulders of the giants of psychometric intelligence research. Intelligence, 37, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2008.08.004 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • McGrew, K. S. (2014). The CHC taxonomy of cognitive abilities codebook – Current status [Presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.iapsych.com/chccodebook1.pdf First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • McGrew, K. S. & Flanagan, D. P. (1998). The intelligence test desk reference (ITDR): Gf-Gc cross-battery assessment. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • McGrew, K. S., LaForte, E. M. & Schrank, F. A. (2014). Woodcock-Johnson IV technical manual. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Niileksela, C. R., Reynolds, M. R. & Kaufman, A. S. (2013). An alternative Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) factor structure of the WAIS-IV: Age invariance of an alternative model for ages 70–90. Psychological Assessment, 25, 391–404. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031175 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Orsini A.Pezzuti, L. (Eds.). (2013a). WAIS-IV. Manuale [WAIS-IV. Manual]. Firenze, Italy: Giunti OS. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Orsini, A. & Pezzuti, L. (2013b). WAIS-IV. Contributo alla taratura italiana [WAIS-IV. Contribution to the Italian standardization]. Firenze, Italy: Giunti OS. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Orsini, A. & Pezzuti, L. (2015). WAIS-IV. Contributo alla taratura italiana (70–90 anni) [WAIS-IV. Contribution to the Italian standardization (70–90 years)]. Firenze, Italy: Giunti OS. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Orsini, A., Pezzuti, L. & Hulbert, S. (2015). The unitary ability of IQ and indexes in WAIS-IV. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000306 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Ortiz, S. O. (2015). CHC theory of intelligence. In S. GoldsteinD. PrinciottaJ. A. NaglieriEds., Handbook of intelligence. Evolutionary theory, historical perspectives, and current concepts (pp. 209–227). New York, NY: Springer. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Pezzuti, L. & Rossetti, S. (2017). Letter-number sequencing, figure weights, and cancellation subtests of WAIS-IV administered to elders. Personality and Individual Differences, 104, 352–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.08.019 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Salthouse, T. (2012). Does the level at which cognitive change occurs change with age? Psychological Science, 1, 18–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611421615 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Schneider, W. J. & McGrew, K. S. (2012). The Cattell-Horn-Carroll model of intelligence. In D. P. FlanaganP. L. HarrisonEds., Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (3rd ed., pp. 99–144). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Stankov, L. (2000). Complexity, metacognition, and fluid intelligence. Intelligence, 28, 121–143. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1621147114 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Ward, L. C., Bergman, M. A. & Herbert, K. R. (2012). WAIS-IV subtest covariance structure: Conceptual and statistical considerations. Psychological Assessment, 24, 328–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025614 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Wechsler, D. (2008a). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition. San Antonio, TX: Pearson. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Wechsler, D. (2008b). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition: Technical and interpretive manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Weiss, L. G., Keith, T. Z., Zhu, J. & Chen, H. (2013). WAIS-IV and clinical validation of the four- and five-factor interpretative approaches. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 31, 94–113. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0734282913478030 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • West, S. G., Finch, J. P. & Curran, P. J. (1995). Structural equation models with nonnormal variables. In R. H. HoyleEd., Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 461–501). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Woodard, J. L. (2010). In P. A. LichtenbergEd., Geriatric neuropsychological assessment. Handbook of assessment in clinical gerontology. London, UK: Elsevier. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Woodcock, R. W., McGrew, K. S. & Mather, N. (2001a). Woodcock Johnson III. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Woodcock, R. W., McGrew, K. S. & Mather, N. (2001b). Woodcock-Johnson III tests of achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Yuan, K. H. & Bentler, P. M. (2000). Three likelihood-based methods for mean and covariance structure analysis with nonnormal missing data. Sociological Methodology, 30, 165–200. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar