Measuring Intelligence by Raven Standard Progressive Matrices Test: A PCA Approach

Abstract

There are many ways to measure the intelligence, especially when it comes to measuring through multidimensional scaling. This study examines the nonverbal abilities of the individuals using nRaven Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) test. RSPM is a nonverbal culture fair test that identifies nonverbal reasoning abilities. It has 60 visually presented geometric-parallel-like problems based on five sets, having 12 items in each set. The tool was administered collectively (group-class) to a representative sample of 267 adolescents (both boys and girls) studying at higher education institutions in Pakistan. The sample was drawn from two public sector universities. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and principle component analysis (PCA) to extract nonverbal abilities. The results indicate that 25% participants have secured 60% or less tests scores, 50% participants have secured 73% or less tests scores, and 25% participants secured more than 81% tests scores. It is also found that participants have very sound intellectual capacity and nonverbal reasoning abilities which is generally identified as fluid intelligence and it is correlated with measures of abstract reasoning, puzzle solving, problem solving, learning and pattern recognition. Principle component analysis has revealed the grouping of the individuals and the common factor that affects the performance of the participants.