FUNCTIONS UNDERLYING PERFORMANCE OF LEARNING-DISABLED CHILDREN IN INTELLIGENCE AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS.

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the factorial validity of specific components of the Reitan-Indiana Neuropsychological Battery with a learning disabled population. Scores of 42 children, 38 males, 4 females, ages 6.2 to 8.8 years were compiled on specific tests of the Reitan-Indiana. Principal component factoring of the original correlation matrix was followed by principal factoring, using a 4 factor solution; varimax rotation with six iterations produced the desired reduction of the correlation matrix; four factors emerged for the learning disabled population, which accounted for 53% of the variance: verbal intelligence, psychomotor speed, achievement, and memory. The factor structure that emerged was not consistent with the surface factors of the battery as conceptualized by its author suggesting that this battery may lack construct validity when used with a learning disabled population.