Investigation of the Factor Structure of the Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence–Second Edition (CTONI-2) Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

Abstract

The present study examined the structure of the Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence–Second Edition (CTONI-2) normative sample using exploratory factor analysis, multiple factor extraction criteria, and higher-order exploratory factor analytic techniques that were not reported in the in the CTONI-2 Examiner’s Manual. Results indicated that retention of the hypothesized CTONI-2 measurement model resulted in several theoretically inconsistent factor loadings, low factor loadings, and the retention of impermissible factors (e.g., factors with no salient loadings). Hierarchical exploratory analyses with the Schmid and Leiman procedure found that the second-order g factor accounted for large portions of total and common variance, in contrast to the two first-order factors that accounted for small portions of dimensional variance. Results suggest that the CTONI-2 provides a strong measure of general intelligence and clinical interpretation should be limited to that level of the measurement instrument.