A Cross-Battery Approach to Assessment

In the early 1990s, researchers realized that no single IQ test examined these seven areas, so they came up with the idea to supplement IQ tests with subtests from other batteries in order to examine all the areas. The McGrew, Flanagan, and Ortiz Integrated Cattell-Horn-Carroll Gf-Gc Cross-Battery approach to assessment was thus formulated. In essence, their work provides guidelines for the application of the CHC theory to assessment and delineates the fundamentals of cross-battery assessment. This cross-battery approach was designed to improve psychoeducational assessment practice by organizing the measures of intelligence into a series of factors, or cognitive abilities, that define intelligence and that can be related to important achievement and occupational outcomes or skills.

Further information regarding the CHC theory and the cross-battery approach is available at the following Web links:

• Kevin McGrew's Institute for Applied Psychometrics (IAP)
  Provides a large amount of information related to CHC theory and free membership in the IAP listserv.
• Dawn Flanagan and Samuel Ortiz's website - XBA Online
  Intended to serve as “the central clearinghouse for dissemination of information, electronic resources, and downloadable materials” regarding CHC Cross-Battery assessment, interpretation, and related issues (e.g., using the Cross-Battery approach to detect learning disabilities).