Nonverbal factors derived from children's performances on neuropsychological test instruments

Abstract

This article explores constructs underlying nonverbal abilities in children as measured by neuropsychological test instruments. A principal‐components factor analysis with a varimax rotation was used to examine the relationships between performances on subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Revised, subtests from the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, the Beery Developmental Test of Visual‐Motor Integration, Benton's Visual Form Discrimination Test, Trail Making, Grooved Pegboard, and Finger Tapping. Four factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were obtained, which accounted for 61% of the variance. These included a visuospatial‐motor factor, a psychomotor speed factor, a visual‐attentional factor, and a factor comprised of visual learning, visual sequencing, and complex‐processing speed.