A comparison of the factor structures of mental abilities in four ethnic groups

Compared structures of mental abilities of groups of Black, Spanish, Jewish, and Caucasian-Gentile community college students. The Comparative Guidance and Placement Program results for 2,985 students were factor analyzed within ethnic groups, and the oblique pattern matrices were compared using factor comparison procedures. Intraclass and congruence coefficients were computed by setting one group's factor matrix as a target and rotating the other matrices against it. Highly similar factor solutions were obtained for each group. Differences in magnitude of loadings on factors were found, but the basic structures were almost identical. The cross-ethnic construct validity of the Comparative Guidance and Placement Program and relative invariance of mental abilities structures across groups were demonstrated.