Factor Analysis of the ASVAB: Confirming a Vernon-Like Structure.

Abstract

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), has been used in its current item and content form for more than a decade. Its latent structure, although explored in factor analyses, has never been confirmed. Several confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on Form 8a in a nationally representative sample. These included a g-only model, a three-factor hierarchical Vernon-like model, 2 four-factor first-order models, and 2 four-factor hierarchical models. Based on fit indexes, simple structure, and parsimony in parameter estimation, the three-factor hierarchical model was chosen to represent the data. The higher-order factor was psychometric g, and the first-order factors were interpreted as Speed, Verbal/Math, and Technical Knowledge. The latter two factors were similar to Vernon factors of Verbal/Educational and Practical.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA303599

Entities

People

  • Malcolm J. Ree
  • Thomas R. Caretta

Organizations

  • Armstrong Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Education
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Factor Analysis
  • Governments
  • Human Resources
  • Information Operations
  • Manpower
  • Mathematics
  • Measurement
  • Military Psychology
  • Procurement
  • Psychology
  • Second World War
  • Training
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.