Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (Fourth Edition): Factor Structure and Verbal Subscale Scores for Three-Year-Olds

Abstract

Questions that concern the new Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: 4th Edition (SB-4) have been raised with respect to the correspondence between the underlying theory and the hypothesized factor structure of the scale. Contrary to the Thorndike, Hagen, and Sattler (1986b) four-factor model, evidence exists that there are fewer factors and that factor structure changes with age. The present study obtained data from 3-year-old children to explore the factor structure and the correspondence between SB-4 verbal scores and verbal scores from the McCarthy. Both EFA and CFA results identify only verbal and nonverbal factors and replicate the findings of others, including R. M. Thorndike (1990b). Stanford-Binet verbal scores derived from models constructed from the factor analyses correlate strongly with McCarthy verbal scores.