Comparison of CHC factors in the Woodcock Johnson-III and the Kaufman Assesment Battery for Children-II

Abstract

Assessments such as the Woodcock Johnson III, Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ III COG) and the Kaufman Assessment for Children-II (KABC-II) are administered by practitioners in order to determine eligibility for special education. The WJ III, COG is based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities and the KABC-II is grounded in the CHC theory and Luria?s neuropsychological theory of processing. This study focused on how the CHC components and the global scores of the WJ III COG and the KABC ?II related to one another and how the global scores on the KABC-II differed from one another. Thirty students identified with specific learning disabilities (SLD) were administered both tests. Data was analyzed using a paired-sample t test and the CHC factors from the tests were correlated. The results showed no significant differences between the mean of students? global scores and no significant difference between the global scores. The subtests measuring the same CHC factors showed 24 significant correlations. These findings suggest that the scores representing each CHC factor may not be interpreted in isolation for students with SLD. Cognitive processing deficits and variance displayed by students with SLD could impact the interpretation of these factors.