Hierarchical analysis of factors in cognition

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a hierarchical arrangement of 17 cognitive factors from Guilford's model of intellect. The proposed hierarchical model would differ from past studies in two ways. First, it would offer a quantitative hierarchical structure of cognitive abilities which would demonstrate the range and number of group factors et each level. Secondly, the model would differ from previous ones by, (1) maintaining orthogonal factors, (2) by eliminating rotation, and (3) by eliminating inferred second order factors common to oblique solutions. To test this concept, 34 cognitive tests were administered to 200 undergraduate males at North Texas State University. The battery of tests was taken from Guilford's model. The tests were analyzed by a Wherry hierarchical factor solution. Prior to this analysis communalities were iterated until they stabilized. These communalities were then used to remove specific variance from the correlation for the purpose of obtaining initial clusters. This analysis revealed a hierarchical factor structure consisting of 14 first order orthogonal factors at three levels: The highest level was a general factor composed of many different functions related to the awareness and understanding of symbolic and figural information. At the next level were two sub-general rectors. One of these factors reflected the ability to abstract relationships between conceptual material while the other sub-general factor measured the ability to synthesize and organize this materiel into a systematic form. The third level was comprised of eleven specific group factors measuring various aspects of cognitive functions which were more narrow in scope than the other two levels. Guilford's factors were found at this lowest level in the hierarchy with several of his factors being identical. The conception of cognitive abilities being related in a e hierarchical fashion was supported by the results in this study, and the interrelationships of various facets of cognition presented in this study appear more in line with the wide range of literature involved with cognitive processes. Also, hypotheses may be deduced from a hierarchical model for further clarification of the development of these abilities end for assessing the different levels in a variety of tasks and situation.