THE K-ABC, CODING, AND PLANNING - AN INVESTIGATION OF COGNITIVE-PROCESSES

A total of 198 students from elementary schools were assessed with six mental processing subtests of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC), a test of simultaneous verbal processing, and three tests of planning. The major objectives were to validate the two-factor structure of the K-ABC, to add a verbal measure to its simultaneous subtests, and to augment the scope of the K-ABC as a measure of cognitive functions by determining whether a planning component can be added to the K-ABC. The results showed that (a) orthogonal simultaneous and sequential factors emerged, (b) the verbal simultaneous test was a good addition, loading heavily with other simultaneous subtests on the simultaneous factor, and (c) a "planning" factor identified by three subtests could be obtained. The three factors of simultaneous, sequential, and planning were confirmed by using LISREL. The three factors were also distinct enough to be identified following the extraction of a higher-order general factor. The study suggests that the application of the K-ABC can be broadened by the addition of a verbal simultaneous test and planning tests. © 1990.