The development and validation of the Self-Report Measure of Cognitive Abilities: A multitrait–multimethod study

Abstract

The expansion in our understanding of the structure of differential cognitive abilities afforded by the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) model has brought with it the need to provide practitioners with efficient and effective methods for screening which abilities most critically require assessment. A Self-Report Measure of Cognitive Abilities could assist practitioners with this process. This article outlines the development and initial validation of the Self-Report Measure of Cognitive Abilities (SRMCA), a multi-item measure designed to indicate cognitive functioning in the CHC ability areas of Fluid reasoning (Gf), Comprehension-knowledge (Gc), and Visual processing (Gv). Validity was initially investigated and supported using exploratory factor analysis, and then cross-validated on a second sample using structural equation modelling (SEM). Subsequently, SEM based multitrait–multimethod analysis of the second sample confirmed convergent validity for the Gc and Gv subscales, but not the Gf subscale. The extent of method variance influence on the SRMCA was found to be non-existent, a markedly different result to that found for the single-item self-estimates of cognitive abilities. Results thus indicate that the use of multiple and specific items allows for self-ratings of distinct cognitive ability areas to be independent of one another. Suggestions for future research aimed at extending the current study are provided.