Age-related invariance of abilities measured with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--III.
Examination of measurement invariance tests the assumption that the model underlying a set of test scores is directly comparable across groups. The observation of measurement invariance provides fundamental evidence for the inference that scores on a test afford equivalent measurement of the same psychological traits among diverse groups. Groups may be derived from different psychosocial backgrounds or different clinical presentations. In the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III)/Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) Technical Manual (Psychological Corporation, 2002), there appears to be a breakdown in factor structure among the standardization cases in older adults. In this study, the authors evaluated the invariance of the measurement model of the WAIS-III across 5 age bands. All components of the measurement model were examined. Overall, the evidence pointed to invariance across age of a modified 4-factor model that included cross-loadings for the Similarities and Arithmetic subtests. These results support the utility of the WAIS-III as a measure of stable intelligence traits across a wide age range.
Bowden
Stephen C
SC
School of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. sbowden@unimelb.edu.au
Weiss
Lawrence G
LG
Holdnack
James A
JA
Lloyd
Delyth
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*