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Strength of the Analytical Factor of the GRE General Test in Several Subgroups: A Full-Information Factor Analysis Approach GREB GRE

Author(s):
Schaeffer, Gary A.; Kingston, Neal M.
Publication Year:
1988
Report Number:
RR-88-05
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
29
Subject/Key Words:
Graduate Record Examinations Board, Analytical Ability Tests, College Entrance Examinations, Factor Analysis, Factor Structure, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Logical Thinking, Majors (Students)

Abstract

This study examined the factor structure of the GRE General Test to appraise the extent to which an analytical factor could be identified that was distinguishable from verbal and quantitative factors. Full-information factor analysis was employed in several groups of undergraduate majors on items from one edition of the GRE General Test. In general, three factors emerged for each group of undergraduate majors. Two of the factors were defined by verbal and quantitative items. A third factor typically had analytical reasoning items loading most heavily on it. No discernible pattern emerged regarding the relationships of the logical reasoning items and other items. The magnitudes of the intercorrelations among the verbal, quantitative, and analytical factors generally were similar across groups. Finally, the assessment of the differences among major groups was tentative and not well-defined due to the extent of differences found among randomly equivalent groups of psychology majors.

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