Abstract
Objective
Exploring the influence of culture on neuropsychological testing presents a complex challenge for researchers. Recently, RIAS-2 has garnered interest in cross-cultural studies. However, there remains a gap in understanding how Asian cultures, particularly in the Middle East, affect the outcomes of this test. This study aims to investigate the invariance and comparative performance of Iranian and U.S. children on the RIAS-2, shedding light on this aspect of the puzzle.
Method
The current study conducted a comparative analysis involving Iranian and U.S. children. A total of 178 Iranian children were chosen through cluster sampling from Tehran and completed the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS-2) test. The U.S. sample was carefully matched with the Iranian group and made available to the researchers for analysis.
Findings
In this study, we initially examined a single-factor model encompassing all subtests across both groups. However, the SPS subtest was excluded from this model. Subsequently, we employed index scores, revealing that only two indexes, CIX and SPI, maintained invariance across the two cultural groups. Notably, in both models, U.S. participants exhibited higher average scores compared to their Iranian counterparts. Additionally, the ANOVA test, serving as a supplementary measure, yielded nearly identical results regarding the average score discrepancy.
Results
The findings of this study underscored the suitability of CIX and SPI scores as reliable indicators for cross-cultural investigations. Furthermore, in the following, some cultural factors affecting the difference in IQ scores between the U.S. and Iranian groups were discussed.