In Search of an Elegant Solution: Reanalysis of Plucker,Callahan,and Tomchin,With Respects to Pyryt and Plucker

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the use of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to explicate constructs underlying performance assessment tasks based on Garder's (1983) theory of multiple intelligences. Data from Plucker, Callahan, and Tomchin (1996) were reanalyzed using CFA. I analyzed several models based on the theoretical conceptualization of the authors, their exploratory factor analysis, and the Subsequent reanalysis of the data by Pyryt (2000). Models that allowed for intercorrelations among factors fit better than those without such correlations. Although the performance tasks appeared to measure their constructs as predicted, a model with three factors that combined Linguistic and Iiterpersonal Intelligence, rather than the four original factors, was supported. Higher order models indicated the presence of a general factor underlying the multiple inelteligences. Although not conforming exactly to the original theory, it appears that this set of performance tasks is a step in the right direction in terns of measuring multiple intelligences. Pyryt's concern for the influence g was confirmed to some extent, but it appears that both factors and individual tasks retain sufficient varianice to allow for the interpretation that they measure separate abilities.

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