The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory, often abbreviated CHC theory, is a psychometric framework describing the structure of human cognitive abilities, synthesized from the separate work of the psychologists Raymond Cattell, John Horn and John Carroll. It combines Cattell and Horn's model of fluid and crystallized intelligence with Carroll's three-stratum hierarchical model of cognitive abilities, organizing abilities into three levels: a single general ability factor at the top stratum, a set of broad abilities such as fluid reasoning, crystallized knowledge and processing speed at the middle stratum, and a larger number of narrow, more specific abilities at the bottom stratum. The theory holds that the relationships among these many cognitive abilities can be understood by classifying them within this three-level structure, built up from decades of research using the statistical technique of factor analysis. CHC theory is now widely accepted as the most comprehensive and empirically supported account of the structure of cognitive abilities, and it underlies the design and interpretation of most contemporary intelligence tests used in psychological and educational assessment.
Facts
Core ClaimThe Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory is a psychometric framework describing the structure of human cognitive abilities, integrating the Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence with Carroll's three-stratum theory into the model most widely used to inform intelligence testing today. 1 Origin YearMarks McGrew and Flanagan's Gf-Gc cross-battery assessment work formalizing the integrated model; the two precursor theories it merges are Cattell-Horn's Gf-Gc theory and Carroll's 1993 three-stratum theory. FAQs
How is the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory used in intelligence testing in schools?
It underpins five of the seven major intelligence tests and is relevant to school psychologists doing psychoeducational assessment.
CHC theory is particularly relevant to school psychologists for psychoeducational assessment. Five of the seven major tests of intelligence have changed to incorporate it as their foundation for specifying and operationalizing cognitive abilities and processes. Because even modern intellectual test instruments fail to effectively measure all ten broad stratum abilities, an alternative method called Cross Battery Assessment was developed, although the research literature has criticized that approach as statistically flawed.
Sources
1. Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory (commonly abbreviated to CHC), is a psychological theory on the structure of human cognitive abilities.
References, McGrew and Flanagan 1998 entry
McGrew, K.; Flanagan, D. (1998). The Intelligence Test Desk Reference: Gf-Gc cross-battery assessment. Allyn & Bacon.
Lead paragraph, education-level
The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory (commonly abbreviated to CHC), is a psychological theory on the structure of human cognitive abilities.
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