Abstract
A recent meta-analysis identified factor structures in IQ-test results from non-western nations similar to those found in samples from western countries, with mostly strong loadings on a general factor. In this study, we identified the factor structure on Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus (SPM+) in two samples of school children from Benin (n = 3 560) and Djibouti (n = 2 768). The SPM+ gained good overall reliabilities in both countries (Cronbach’s α = 0.87 for the total samples). However, although Raven’s Matrices are assumed by many authors as a good instrument of “g”, neither exploratory nor confirmatory factor analyses were able to identify a general factor explaining more than 30% of the total variance. In contrast, our results suggest a three or more factors solution. Doubt regarding the suitability of this test for determining intelligence in sub-Saharan African countries is caused by three factors: (i) decreasing reliability; (ii) increasing number of identified factors when including items with a higher level of difficulty; and (iii) a lack of factor congruence between the two samples.
Acknowledgement
The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through Research Group no. RG-1438-007.