Exploring the Multidimensional Structure of the WASI-II: Further Insights from Schmid-Leiman Higher-Order and Exploratory Bifactor Solutions

Authors

Brittany McGeehan, Texas Woman's University
Nadine Ndip, Texas Woman's University
Ryan J. McGill, The College of William and MaryFollow

Abstract

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-Second Edition (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011a) is a versatile and widely utilized brief intelligence measure by assessment psychologists in a variety of clinical settings. Despite the fact that a hierarchical measurement model is implied in the WASI-II Manual (Wechsler, 2011b) and the scores provided by the instrument, a hierarchical measurement model was not specified in the structural validation studies conducted by the test publisher. Due to this shortcoming, two exploratory factor analytic methods (Schmid-Leiman [SL] and exploratory bifactor analysis [EBFA]) were utilized to disclose the higher-order structuring of WASI-II variables. Results from both solutions indicated that the WASI-II provides users with strong measurement of general intelligence and suggest caution when interpreting beyond that dimension despite the provision of additional factor-level indices. Implications for clinical interpretation and appropriate use(s) of the WASI-II and other related brief measures is discussed.

Recommended Citation

McGeehan, Brittany; Ndip, Nadine; and McGill, Ryan J. (2017) "Exploring the Multidimensional Structure of the WASI-II: Further Insights from Schmid-Leiman Higher-Order and Exploratory Bifactor Solutions," Archives of Assessment Psychology: Vol. 7, Article 1.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/psyassessment/vol7/iss1/1