A Cross-Cultural Validation of the SequentialSimultaneous Theory of Intelligence in Children

Abstract

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children–Korean (K-ABC-K) was developed to assess the intelligence and achievement of preschool and school-aged Korean children. This study examined the validity of the Sequential Processing, Simultaneous Processing and Achievement scales of the K-ABC-K using the technique of principal factor analysis. The K-ABC-K is not just a simple translation, but an adaptation of the K-ABC for Korean children. The subjects of the study included 2,400 children from The K-ABC-K standardization sample, ranging in age from 2.5 to 12.5 years. Factor analysis of the ten Mental Processing and six Achievement subtests yielded three factors for ages 4 and above. As was true for the American K-ABC, only two factors emerged for ages 2.5 and 3. In general, the factor analyses provided strong support for the construct validity of the K-ABC-K and supported common underlying mental constructs for Korean and American children.