Reliability and validity of Cognitive Abilities Test-Online for preschoolers and early school-age children

This study aimed to develop the Cognitive Abilities Test Online (CAT-O) for preschoolers and early school-age children. The scale's reliability, validity, and factor structure were also investigated. The CAT-O consists of three subtests: the Picture Vocabulary Test-Online, the Visual Reasoning Test-Online, and the Visual Working Memory Test-Online. Study 1 revealed that each of the three tests demonstrated good test-retest reliability. In terms of convergent validity, the three subtests demonstrated moderate to high significant positive correlations with similar scales. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analyses of ordered categorical data with a national random sample (N = 1,251) revealed that the three-factor model was the best fit. The high internal consistency of each test provided further evidence of its reliability. The mean levels of individual correct response rates and categorical factor scores progressed according to grade level, which also confirmed the validity of the CAT-O. Future research should focus on investigating the usability of the CAT-O in research and clinical settings.