Construct validation of the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test by means of the Swedish Enlistment Battery

Scand J Psychol. 2005 Feb;46(1):31-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2005.00432.x.

Abstract

The construct validity of the Swedish Scholastic Test (SweSAT), used for admissions to higher education, was studied through relating it to the Computerized Enlistment Battery (CAT-SEB) used at conscription to military service. Out of three male age cohorts tested at 18 years with the CAT-SEB in 1997, 1998, or 1999 six groups of men that had taken their first SweSAT in the Autumn (n= 3,163; 2,938; 2,820) the same year, or in the Spring (n= 3,238; 2,587; 2,447) the next year were used for the analyses. Four types of models were fitted to the tests: (1) a nested factor model with the latent variables general intelligence (g), crystallized intelligence (Gc) and general visualization; (2) a higher order model with g as an apex factor; (3) a multivariate regression model where the SeSAT subtests were regressed on the SEB factors; and (4) separate models of SweSAT and CAT-SEB with covariances between latent variables. The results show that the SweSAT is dominated by Gc factors and that the g factor has a smaller influence.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Educational Measurement*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel
  • Psychological Tests*
  • Reproducibility of Results