The General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) has been used in America for over 45 years and administered abroad in 13 languages in 35 countries, including an Arabic version. Correlation matrices for the 12 GATB tests for samples of 4,000 Americans and 749 Saudi Arabians were analysed by factor and cluster analysis. The resulting factor structures and group mean score profiles are contrasted. Three similar factors emerged (Cognitive, Psychomotor and Spatial Perception) for both samples and factorial equivalence established. The profiles of mean scores for the two groups are similar in both shape and amplitude.
One can have confidence in the results when an Arabic version of the GATB is administered to Saudi Arabian males. Further study should be made of tests measuring the Spatial Perception construct, so that this important ability dimension can be used with greater precision with Saudi Arabian males for selection, counselling, and training.
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