FLUX (Fluid Intelligence Luxembourg): Development and Validation of a Fair Tablet-Based Test of Cognitive Ability in Multicultural and Multilingual Children

Nonverbal tests assess cognitive ability in multicultural and multilingual children, but language-based instructions disadvantage non-proficient children. This is a growing concern worldwide due to the increasing number of multilingual classrooms. The tablet-based FLUX (Fluid Intelligence Luxembourg) test was developed within a highly multicultural and multilingual educational context to offer not only nonverbal test content but also language-fair animated video instructions. A total of 703 third graders (Mage = 8.85, SD = 0.66; 48.8% females, 51.1% males, 0.1% with no gender specified) were included in the standardisation sample and were assessed with tasks measuring figural fluid intelligence, quantitative fluid intelligence, visual processing and short-term memory. The test proved sufficiently reliable (FLUX Full-scale: McDonald’s Omega = 0.94; split-half = 0.95). Test fairness was ensured by analysing each item for Differential Item Functioning (DIF) on children’s background characteristics (language spoken at home, socioeconomic status, gender). Its factorial structure was confirmed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Further validity evidence was provided by determining its concurrent and criterion-related validity (correlations with a test of cognitive ability and educational achievement scores). Research implications and future prospects in promoting equal opportunities in a heterogeneous multilingual educational context are discussed.