Multiple-group factor analysis of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

Confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the intercorrelations among the 12 tests of the WISC and WISC-R separately for age levels 7.5, 10.5, and 13.5 to test Wechsler's (1958) hypothesis that verbal and performance factors underlie these tests. At all three age levels, verbal and performance factors that accounted for approximately 50% of the total variance emerged clearly. These results provide strong empirical support for Wechsler's hypothesis.