The present study investigated gender differences in cognitive abilities for children aged 2–7 years on the German Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence–Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). WPPSI-IV data of 1,042 children (517 girls and 525 boys) were selected from the extended dataset of the German WPPSI-IV standardization sample. First of all, confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were used to verify the factor structure of the WPPSI-IV, which was proposed by the test developers. Then, multiple-group confirmatory factor models were implemented to explore measurement invariance across gender. Finally, mean differences in the subtests, index scores, as well as full scale IQ (FSIQ) were analyzed. The second-order three-factor model for age group 2:6–3:11 as well as the second-order five-factor model for age group 4:0–7:7 could be verified. For age group 2:6–3:11, full scalar invariance could be accepted, whereas partial scalar invariance could be established by freeing five nonequivalent subtest intercepts for age group 4:0–7:7. These findings support interpretable comparisons of the WPPSI-IV scores between girls and boys. For age group 4:0–7:7, partial invariance should be taken into account in these comparisons. Furthermore, girls aged 4:0–7:7 showed an advantage in processing speed (PS). Mean scores in any of the other cognitive abilities did not differ between girls and boys in both age groups. These results indicated measurement invariance across gender on the WPPSI-IV, so that the tests measure cognitive abilities in the same way for girls and boys. The current findings showed that gender differences in PS may emerge in early childhood, which might lead to gender differences in later educational skills.

本研究在德国Wechsler小学和学前智力量表（第四版）（WPPSI-IV）上调查了2-7岁儿童在认知能力上的性别差异。从德国WPPSI-IV标准化样本的扩展数据集中选择了1,042名儿童（517个女孩和525个男孩）的WPPSI-IV数据。首先，使用验证性因子分析（CFAs）来验证WPPSI-IV的因子结构，该结构由测试开发人员提出。然后，实施了多组验证性因子模型以探索跨性别的测量不变性。最后，分析了子测验，指数得分和全面智商（FSIQ）的平均差异。可以验证年龄组2：6–3：11的二阶三因子模型以及年龄组4：0–7：7的二阶五因子模型。对于2：6–3：11年龄组，可以接受全部标量不变性，而对于4：0–7：7年龄组，可以通过释放五个非等效子测试截距来建立部分标量不变性。这些发现支持了男孩和女孩之间WPPSI-IV分数的可解释比较。对于4：0–7：7年龄组，在这些比较中应考虑部分不变性。此外，4：0–7：7岁的女孩在处理速度（PS）方面显示出优势。在这两个年龄段的男孩和女孩中，其他任何认知能力的平均得分没有差异。这些结果表明，在WPPSI-IV上，性别间的测量不变性，因此这些测试以相同的方式测量男孩和女孩的认知能力。目前的发现表明PS中的性别差异可能会在儿童早期出现，