Factor Analysis of the Asvab: Confirming a Vernon-Like Structure

Abstract

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) has been used in its current item and content form for more than a decade. Its latent structure, although explored in factor analyses, has never been confirmed. Several confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on Form 8a in a nationally representative sample. These included a g-only model, a three-factor hierarchical Vernon-like model, 2 four-factor first-order models, and 2 four-factor hierarchical models. Based on fit indexes, simple structure, and parsimony in parameter estimation, the three-factor hierarchical model was chosen to represent the data. The higher-order factor was psychometric g, and the first-order factors were interpreted as Speed, VerbalUMath, and Technical Knowledge. The latter two factors were similar to the Vernon factors of Verbal/Educational and Practical.