Remarks on Sternberg's “Factor Theories of Intelligence are All Right Almost”

articulated notion of component than was available from Sternberg's earlier writings. His research over the past several years has enabled him to refine, and at the same time extend, this concept. But in addition, Sternberg has recognized more fully the possible contributions of factor analysis to the study of intelligence and mental abilities. My discussion concerns not only Sternberg's article published here, but also the book he published earlier on a componential theory of intelligence (Sternberg, 1977), because in order to be quite concrete in showing how componential analysis and factor analysis can be used conjointly, I use certain data and results reported in that book. Also, I feel it may be useful to make certain comments on points of view expressed there about factor analysis. At the same time, I want to test my own understanding of componential analysis, for which I have high hopes if it can be more generally accepted, applied, and integrated with factoranalytic methodology.