Final answer:
Factor analysis is a statistical process used to identify clusters of related test items, commonly in the context of psychological and intelligence testing to ensure accuracy and consistency of the measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factor analysis is a statistical procedure aimed at identifying clusters of closely related test items among a set of variables. It is commonly used in psychological testing, including intelligence tests, to improve the tool’s validity and to understand the underlying structure of psychological phenomena. Factor analysis can reveal which items on a test are grouping together, suggesting they may be measuring the same underlying construct, such as a specific ability or trait.
IQ tests like the Stanford-Binet and the Wechsler scales are subjected to rigorous statistical analyses during development and standardization to ensure that they are reliable and valid measures of intelligence. Understanding the factor structure of an IQ test can assist researchers and psychologists in refining the test for accuracy and fairness, making sure that it measures what it is intended to measure and that the scores are consistent over time and across populations.