Latent structure of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: a confirmatory factor analytic study

Abstract

The present study represents the first large scale confirmatory factor analysis of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The results generally support the three factor solutions reported in the exploratory factor analysis literature. However, only the first factor, which reflects general executive functioning, is statistically sound. The secondary factors, while likely reflecting meaningful cognitive abilities, are less stable except when all subjects complete all 128 cards. It is likely that having two discontinuation rules for the WCST has contributed to the varied factor analytic solutions reported in the literature and early discontinuation may result in some loss of useful information. Continued multivariate research will be necessary to better clarify the processes underlying WCST performance and their relationships to one another.

The set-shifting profiles of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The paradigm yields a number of different outputs which can be analysed including perseverative errors, when the participant continues to sort cards according to a previous rule (Lezak, 1995). The WCST is a widely used measure of general executive function (Heaton et al 1993;Greve et al 2005). The WCST is assumed to consist of three factors: perseveration, failure to maintain set and idiosyncratic sorting (Greve et al 1998).…”

Alteraciones neurocognitivas en la esquizofrenia. Análisis factorial

“…El análisis factorial de la batería neuropsicológica empleada reveló tres componentes que reflejan las funciones: flexibilidad cognitiva (Factor 1), control de la interferencia y memoria de trabajo (Factor 2), y velocidad de procesamiento y atención dividida (Factor 3). Numerosas investigaciones coinciden con los resultados obtenidos al describir una estructura factorial de tres componentes en los procesos ejecutivos [30][31][32] .…”

“…Resumen de los resultados del análisis factorial para las puntuaciones en pruebas neuropsicológicas de la función ejecutiva (n =102)*. mismo instrumento en diferentes grupos diagnósticos incluidos pacientes psiquiátricos, con trauma cerebral, con accidentes cerebrovasculares o con demencias 32 .…”

“…Estos resultados también respaldan los hallazgos de otros estudios factoriales de amplias baterías neuropsicológicas que muestran cómo las variables del WCST conforman el primer factor con una saturación alta 30,32 . Además, se corrobora la idea de que el WCST representa una medida separada de una habilidad específica que no es compartida por ningún otro test 33 .…”

Profile of male adolescents with conduct disorder on intellectual efficacy, cognitive flexibility, cognitive coping, impulsivity and alexithymia: A comparison with high-risk controls

“…The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was developed to measure abstract reasoning and cognitive flexibility 11 . The total number of errors was used to control that participants understood the task, and the number of perseverative error to assess the ability to shift cognitive set according to changing contingencies 43 .…”