Gender-related differences in intelligence: Application of confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test first- and second-order factor models on cognitive abilities and their invariance across male and female samples. Four first-order factors were found underlying the 23 subtest scores of two group intelligence tests, the AH 4 Test of Intelligence and the Advanced Progressive Matrices, and two group Piagetian tests, Science Reasoning Tasks and Arlin Test of Formal Reasoning. Slight differences found in the formal operations, spatial, numerical, and verbal factors of the male and female groups suggested some gender-related differences in these factors.There were two alternative second-order general factor models for the male group, one with three first-order factors and the other with four first-order factors. Only a general factor model with three first-order factors fit the data of the female sample; this female group model contained some differences in the loadings of the formal operations and spatial factors when compared with that of the male group.