Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Next article
Articles

Cognitive Abilities and Their Interplay

Reasoning, Crystallized Intelligence, Working Memory Components, and Sustained Attention

Published Online:January 01, 2006https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001.27.2.57

Abstract

The aim of this study was to confirm that coordination and storage in the context of processing are significant predictors of reasoning even if crystallized intelligence is controlled for. It was also expected that sustained attention and coordination would be highly correlated. Therefore, 20 working memory tests, 2 attention tests, and 18 intelligence subtests were administered to 121 students. We were able to replicate results indicating that storage in the context of processing and coordination are significant predictors of reasoning. Controlling for crystallized intelligence did not decrease the common variance between working memory and reasoning. The study also revealed that the factors coordination and sustained attention were highly correlated. Finally, a model is presented with the latent variables speed and g, which can explain almost all of the common variance of the applied aggregates. A detailed discussion of the results supports the view that working memory and intelligence share about 70% of the common variance.

References

  • Ackerman, P.L., Beier, M.E., Boyle, M.O. (2005). Working memory and intelligence: The same or different constructs?. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 30–60 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Amthauer, R., Brocke, B., Liepmann, D., Beauducel, A. (2001). Intelligenz-Struktur-Test 2000 R (I-S-T 2000 R) - Handanweisung. [Intelligence-Structure-Test 2000 R (I-S-T 2000 R) - handbook]. Göttingen: Hogrefe First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Baddeley, A.D. (1986). Working memory. New York: Oxford University Press First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Beauducel, A., Brocke, B., Liepmann, D. (2001). Perspectives on fluid and crystallized intelligence: Facets for verbal, numerical, and figural intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 977–994 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Beauducel, A., Wittmann, W.W. (2005). Simulation study on fit indexes in CFA based on data with slightly distorted simple structure. Structural Equation Modeling, 12, 41–75 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brickenkamp, R. (2002). Test d2: Aufmerksamkeits-Belastungs-Test (9. überarb. u. neu normierte Aufl.). [d2 Test: Concentration Endurance Test; 9th rev. ed. with new norms]. Göttingen: Hogrefe First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Buehner, M., Mangels, M., Krumm, S., Ziegler, M. (2005). Are working memory and attention related constructs?. Journal of Individual Differences, 26, 121–131 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Buehner, M., Krumm, S., Pick, M. (2005). Reasoning is working memory and not attention. Intelligence, 33, 251–272 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Carpenter, P.A., Just, M.A., Shell, P. (1990). What one intelligence test measures: A theoretical account of the processing in the Raven Progressive Matrices Test. Psychological Review, 97, 404–431 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Carroll, J.B. (1993). Human cognitive abilities: A survey of factor-analytic studies. New York: Cambridge University Press First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cattell, R.B. (1987). Intelligence: Its structure, growth, and action. Oxford: North-Holland First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Colom, R., Abad, F.J., Rebollo, I., Shih, P.C. (2005). Memory span and general intelligence: A latent-variable approach. Intelligence, 33, 623–642 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Colom, R., Rebollo, I., Palacios, A., Juan Espinosa, M., Kyllonen, P.C. (2004). Working memory is (almost) perfectly predicted by g. Intelligence, 32, 277–296 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Conway, A.R.A., Cowan, N., Bunting, M.F., Therriault, D.J., Minkoff, S.R.B. (2002). A latent variable analysis of working memory capacity, short-term memory capacity, processing speed, and general fluid intelligence. Intelligence, 30, 163–184 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Coull, J.T. (1998). Neural correlates of attention and arousal: Insights from electrophysiology, functional neuroimaging, and psychopharmacology. Progress in Neurobiology, 55, 343–361 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Daneman, M., Carpenter, P.A. (1980). Individual differences in working memory and reading. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 19, 450–466 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Danthiir, V., Wilhelm, O., Schulze, R., Roberts, R.D. (2005). Factor structure and validity of paper-and-pencil measures of mental speed: Evidence for a higher-order model?. Intelligence, 33, 491–514 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • DeShon, R.P. (1998). A cautionary note on measurement error corrections in structural equation models. Psychological Methods, 3, 412–423 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Dueker, H. (1957). Leistungsfähigkeit und Keimdrüsenhormone. [Ability and gonad hormones]. Munich: J.A. Barth First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Engle, R.W., Kane, M.J., Tuholski, S.W. (1999). Individual differences in working memory capacity and what they tell us about controlled attention, general fluid intelligence, and functions of the prefrontal cortex. In A. Miyake & P. Shah (Eds.), Models of working memory (pp. 102-134). New York: Cambridge University Press First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hancock, G.R., Mueller, R.O. (2001). Rethinking construct reliability within latent variable systems. In R. Cudeck, S. du Toit, & D. Srbom (Eds.), Structural equation modeling: Present and future - Festschrift in honor of Karl Jreskog, (pp. 195-216). Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International, Inc. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Hu, L.T., Bentler, P.M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kane, M.J., Hambrick, D.Z., Conway, A.R.A. (2005). Working memory capacity and fluid intelligence are strongly related constructs: Comment on Ackerman, Beier, and Boyle (2005). Psychological Bulletin, 131, 66–71 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kyllonen, P.C., Christal, R.E. (1990). Reasoning ability is (little more than) working-memory capacity?. Intelligence, 14, 389– 433 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lance, C.E., Lambert, T.A., Gewin, A.G., Lievens, F., Conway, J.M. (2004). Revised estimates of dimension and exercise variance components in assessment center postexercise dimension ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89, 377–385 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lance, C.E., Noble, C.L., Scullen, S.E. (2002). A critique of the correlated trait-correlated method and correlated uniqueness models for multitrait-multimethod data. Psychological Methods, 7, 228–244 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lohman, D.F. (2005). Reasoning abilities. In R.J. Sternberg & J.E. Pretz (Eds.), Cognition & intelligence. Identifying the mechanisms of the mind (pp. 225-250). New York: Cambridge University Press First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W., Hau, K.T., Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on hypothesis-testing approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and Bentler's (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11, 320–341 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Miyake, A., Friedman, N.P., Emerson, M.J., Witzki, A.H., Howerter, A., Wager, T.D. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “frontal lobe” tasks: A latent variable analysis. Cognitive Psychology, 41, 49–100 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Miyake, A., Shah, P. (1999). Models of working memory. Mechanisms of active maintenance and executive control. New York: Cambridge University Press First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Moosbrugger, H., Heyden, M. (1997). FACT - Frankfurt Adaptive Concentration-Performance Test. Göttingen: Hogrefe First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Mosier, C.I. (1943). On the reliability of a weighted composite. Psychometrika, 8, 161–168 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Norman, D.A., Shallice, T. (1986). Attention to action: Willed and automatic control of behavior. In R.J. Davidson, G.E. Schwartz, & D. Shapiro (Eds.), Consciousness and self-regulation: Advances in research and theory (Vol. 4, pp. 1-18). New York: Plenum First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Oberauer, K., Schulze, R., Wilhelm, O., Suess, H.M. (2005). Working memory and intelligence - their correlation and their relation: Comment on Ackerman, Beier, and Boyle (2005). Psychological Bulletin, 131, 61–65 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Oberauer, K., Suess, H.M., Wilhelm, O., Wittmann, W.W. (2000). Working memory capacity - Facets of a cognitive ability construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 1017–1045 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Oberauer, K., Suess, H.M., Wilhelm, O., Wittman, W.W. (2003). The multiple faces of working memory: Storage, processing, supervision, and coordination. Intelligence, 31, 167–193 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Raven, J.C. (1962). Advanced progressive matrices. London: Lewis and Co, Ltd First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Rogers, R.D., Monsell, S. (1995). Costs of a predictable switch between simple cognitive tasks. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 124, 207–231 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schmidt-Atzert, L., Buehner, M., Enders, P. (2006). Messen Konzentrationstests Konzentration? Eine Analyse von Konzentrationstestleistungen. [Do concentration tests measure concentration? An analysis of concentration test performances] Diagnostica, 52, 33–44 First citation in articleAbstract, Google Scholar

  • Schweizer, K., Moosbrugger, H. (2004). Attention and working memory as predictors of intelligence. Intelligence, 32, 329–347 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schweizer, K. (2005). An overview of research into the cognitive basis of intelligence. Journal of Individual Differences, 26, 43–51 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Schweizer, K. (2000). Passage limitation as source of the speed-ability relationship. Psychologische Beiträge, 42, 174–189 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Schweizer, K. (1994). Structural diversity of the speed-ability relationship due to information-processing skills. Personality and Individual Differences, 17, 607–616 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Shah, P., Miyake, A (1999). Models of working memory: An introduction. In A. Miyake & P. Shah (Eds.), Models of working memory (pp. 1-27). New York: Cambridge University Press First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Suess, H.M., Oberauer, K., Wittmann, W.W., Wilhelm, O., Schulze, R. (2002). Working-memory capacity explains reasoning ability - and a little bit more. Intelligence, 30, 261–288 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wilhelm, O., Schulze, R. (2002). The relation of speeded and unspeeded reasoning with mental speed. Intelligence, 30, 537–554 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wittmann, W.W., Suess, H.M. (1999). Investigating the paths between working memory, intelligence, knowledge, and complex problem-solving performances via Brunswik symmetry. In P.L. Ackerman, P.C. Kyllonen, & R.D. Roberts (Eds.), Learning and individual differences: Process, trait, and content determinants (pp. 77-108). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar