Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Turkish Version of the WISC-IV in Non-clinical Sample: Validation of the Wechsler and CHC Models with Core and Supplemental Subtests

Objective: In this study, the validities of the 4-factor structure and the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory-based models of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) were investigated by confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in a Turkish non-clinical sample (n = 793).

Methods: Several models were examined and compared using CFA.

Results: Results revealed that both the 4-factor structure and the CHC-based 5 factor model were supported. However, both Wechsler and CHC bifactor models did not provide the best explanation of WISC-IV’s factor structure. Across all models, while the common variance was mostly explained by general intelligence, it was least explained by the group factor in the CHC bifactor model.

Conclusion: Consequently, the factor structure of the WISC-IV Turkish is more suitable for higherorder (indirect hierarchical) models than bifactor models. In addition to the Wechsler 4-factor model, the WISC-IV also measured crystallized ability (Gc), visual processing (Gv), fluid reasoning (Gf), working memory capacity (Gwm), and processing speed (Gs). In particular, either separating Gf and Gv or combining them as the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) provided a meaningful explanation. The Arithmetic subtest had significant cross-loadings. For children in Turkey, this subtest appears a reflection of Gwm and Gc in both Wechsler and the CHC higher-order models.

Cite this article as: Çelik C. Confirmatory factor analyses of the Turkish version of the WISC-IV in non-clinical sample: Validation of the Wechsler and CHC models with core and supplemental subtests. Psychiatr Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021;31(3):319-330.