Approximately seven years ago I made a post regarding the launch of the AJT CHC-based intelligence test developed and normed in Indonesia. I was the primary CHC theory and applied psychometrics consultant for the project for four years (2014 to 2017).
Unfortunately the timing of the formal AJT launch was impacted by several unanticipated factors (e.g., the lack of a mature university-based psychological assessment and interpretation training infrastructure), the most salient being the world-wide COVID pandemic. At that time the AJT folks put the project on “pause”. To date I’ve not heard if the project has since been restarted.
I decided to check on the impact of the CHC theory of cognitive abilities in Indonesia. It was my impression, based on multiple keynote university-based CHC/AJT presentations I made during the project plus feedback from the project staff, that despite the AJT pause, the project had a major impact regarding the infusion of the CHC theory in universities (psychology departments) and private testing entities.
To satisfy my curiosity, I performed the following Google AI queries. Below is what I I found. Professionally I feel very proud that the four-year AJT project resulted in the quick infusion of CHC theory in the academic and private sector discourse. All entities and staff who worked on the project should be proud of the CHC impact in Indonesia.
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On 11-09-2025 I, Dr. Kevin McGrew, submitted the following prompt question, followed by a second follow-up question to a Google AI search (that uses the Gemini large language model) with the Firefox web browser (version 144.0.2, released on October 28, 2025).
“What is the history of the CHC theory of intelligence in Indonesia?
The history of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of intelligence in Indonesia is relatively recent, primarily involving efforts to develop and validate locally normed intelligence tests based on the CHC framework. The theory has been recognized as the "most comprehensive theory" for structuring cognitive abilities and has been used in academic research and test development.
Key milestones in the history include:
- Early 2010s: The CHC theory started gaining attention in Indonesian academic and psychological circles, leading to research interest in applying the framework. The existing intelligence tests in Indonesia at the time were few and not necessarily based on contemporary, comprehensive models like CHC theory.
- 2013-2018: The AJT Cognitive Assessment Test (AJT-CAT) Project: The most significant development began around 2013, sponsored and directed by the Yayasan Dharma Bermakna Foundation (YDB).
- This project aimed to create the first comprehensive, individually administered intelligence test in Indonesia that was natively based on the CHC theory.
- Psychometric and CHC expert Dr. Kevin McGrew served as a consultant for this project.
- The test was nationally normed using a sample of over 4,000 Indonesian individuals aged 5-18.
- The formal launch of the AJT occurred in April 2018.
- Research and Further Test Development: Since the launch of the AJT, the CHC theory has continued to serve as a foundational framework for other, more specific test development efforts.
- Researchers have developed tests for specific abilities, such as a visual-spatial ability test for high school students and a lexical knowledge test, using the CHC theory as the underlying structural model.
- These studies emphasize the use of CHC theory to ensure tests are psychometrically sound and relevant for the Indonesian context, particularly for educational and clinical assessment purposes.
The history of CHC theory in Indonesia is marked by a shift towards developing culturally relevant, psychometrically robust assessments grounded in contemporary, internationally recognized theories of intelligence, moving beyond older or imported models.
What psychologist is most associated with the CHC theory in Indonesia?
The psychologist most prominently associated with the application and development of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory in Indonesia is the American psychometric expert Dr. Kevin McGrew. Dr. McGrew served as the primary international consultant for the development of the AJT Cognitive Assessment Test (AJT-CAT), which was the first individually administered, CHC-theory-based intelligence test developed and nationally normed in Indonesia. This project was a major collaborative effort between 2013 and 2018 involving the Yayasan Dharma Bermakna Foundation (YDB) and the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
While the CHC theory in Indonesia involves contributions from several Indonesian researchers and institutions, Dr. McGrew is the most widely recognized figure due to his direct supervision of this foundational project and his broader international reputation as a leading scholar and "gatekeeper" of the CHC theory.
