Factorial invariance for combined Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-revised and Wechsler Memory Scale-revised scores in a sample of clients with alcohol dependency

This study examined the joint factor structure of the WAIS-R and WMS-R in a sample of 289 participants (mostly males) with alcohol dependency. In a co nfirmatory phase we contrasted a range of factor models derived from previo us analyses of the Wechsler scales. The best fitting model incorporated fiv e factors representing Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Atten tion-Concentration, Verbal Memory, and Visual Memory, with reassignment of factor loadings for two subtests. The invariance of the measurement model w as then examined comparing data from a large sample of healthy participants (J. R. Carstairs & E. A. Shores, 1999). The results indicated that the num ber of factors was invariant across samples, and four of the factors satisf ied the criterion of partial measurement invariance.