Elements of a combinational circuit are divided into plural groups. The output from a terminal Q is fixed at shifted timing in flip-flop circuits belonging to each of groups X, Y and Z resulting from this grouping. With the outputs from the terminals Q of the flip-flop circuits thus fixed, an operation of a shift mode is carried out. When the operation of the shift mode is completed, a hold releasing operation and a capture operation are carried out with respect to each of the groups of the flip-flop circuits. For example, the hold releasing operation is carried out when one clock is at a high level with the capture operation carried out when the clock is at a low level, or the hold releasing operation is successively carried out with respect to each of the groups and then the capture operation for capturing a data signal is carried out with respect to each of the groups.