A CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYTIC STUDY EXAMINING THE DIMENSIONALITY OF THE RAVENS ADVANCED PROGRESSIVE MATRICES

The objective of the current study was to provide a direct comparison of two competing views of the underlying structure of the Raven's Adva nced Progressive Matrices (APM), a widely used test designed as a nonv erbal measure of general cognitive ability (g). The first view postula tes a two-factor model to explain the structure of the APM; and the se cond view, a single-factor model. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis suggest that a single-factor solution seems to be the best r epresentation of the APM's structure. These findings are also consiste nt with the original development and intended use of the APM as a meas ure of a unidimensional construct.