Factor Analyses of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children Assessed Longitudinally at 5 and 10 Years

Abstract

The availability of test instruments that can reflect cultural differences and environmental influences and maintain their factor structure is problematic when working in multilingual environments. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) has been considered as an assessment tool of preference for researchers working in cross cultural environments. The K-ABC, but specifically the two processing scales (Sequential and Simultaneous), has been used in a number of cross cultural studies. These scales were administered to 199 children living in Soweto, South Africa at the age of 5 years and again at 10 years. The children were participants in a longitudinal study in Johannesburg. Principal component analyses showed a two factor solution on both occasions which has been observed in other cross cultural studies with the K-ABC processing scales. However, changes in the factors loading were observed at both age stages. Separate factor analyses for boys ( n = 97) and girls ( n = 102) in the group showed variation in developmental processing patterns and subtest loadings. Changes in children's processing styles have implications for teaching and learning. This study supports the two factor solution underlying the K-ABC scores in an African paediatric population.