IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/intell/v102y2024ics0160289623000855.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Don't waste your time measuring intelligence: Further evidence for the validity of a three-minute speeded reasoning test

Author

Listed:
  • Schubert, Anna-Lena
  • Löffler, Christoph
  • Wiebel, Clara
  • Kaulhausen, Florian
  • Baudson, Tanja Gabriele

Abstract

The rise of large-scale collaborative panel studies has generated a need for fast, reliable, and valid assessments of cognitive abilities. In these studies, a detailed characterization of participants' cognitive abilities is often unnecessary, leading to the selection of tests based on convenience, duration, and feasibility. This often results in the use of abbreviated measures or proxies, potentially compromising their reliability and validity. Here we evaluate the mini-q (Baudson & Preckel, 2016), a three-minute speeded reasoning test, as a brief assessment of general cognitive abilities. The mini-q exhibited excellent reliability (0.96–0.99) and a substantial correlation with general cognitive abilities measured with a comprehensive test battery (r = 0.57; age-corrected r = 0.50), supporting its potential as a brief screening of cognitive abilities. Working memory capacity accounted for the majority (54%) of the association between test performance and general cognitive abilities, whereas individual differences in processing speed did not contribute to this relationship. Our results support the notion that the mini-q can be used as a brief, reliable, and valid assessment of general cognitive abilities. We therefore developed a computer-based version, ensuring its adaptability for large-scale panel studies. The paper- and computer-based versions demonstrated scalar measurement invariance and can therefore be used interchangeably. We provide norm data for young (18 to 30 years) and middle-aged (31 to 60 years) adults and provide recommendations for incorporating the mini-q in panel studies. Additionally, we address potential challenges stemming from language diversity, wide age ranges, and online testing in such studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Schubert, Anna-Lena & Löffler, Christoph & Wiebel, Clara & Kaulhausen, Florian & Baudson, Tanja Gabriele, 2024. "Don't waste your time measuring intelligence: Further evidence for the validity of a three-minute speeded reasoning test," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:102:y:2024:i:c:s0160289623000855
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2023.101804
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000855
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.intell.2023.101804?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chuderski, Adam, 2019. "Even a single trivial binding of information is critical for fluid intelligence," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Hilger, Kirsten & Spinath, Frank M. & Troche, Stefan & Schubert, Anna-Lena, 2022. "The biological basis of intelligence: Benchmark findings," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Scott Marek & Brenden Tervo-Clemmens & Finnegan J. Calabro & David F. Montez & Benjamin P. Kay & Alexander S. Hatoum & Meghan Rose Donohue & William Foran & Ryland L. Miller & Timothy J. Hendrickson &, 2022. "Reproducible brain-wide association studies require thousands of individuals," Nature, Nature, vol. 603(7902), pages 654-660, March.
    4. Frischkorn, Gidon T. & Wilhelm, Oliver & Oberauer, Klaus, 2022. "Process-oriented intelligence research: A review from the cognitive perspective," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Scott Marek & Brenden Tervo-Clemmens & Finnegan J. Calabro & David F. Montez & Benjamin P. Kay & Alexander S. Hatoum & Meghan Rose Donohue & William Foran & Ryland L. Miller & Timothy J. Hendrickson &, 2022. "Publisher Correction: Reproducible brain-wide association studies require thousands of individuals," Nature, Nature, vol. 605(7911), pages 11-11, May.
    6. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
    7. Chloe Fawns-Ritchie & Ian J Deary, 2020. "Reliability and validity of the UK Biobank cognitive tests," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Celeste McCracken & Zahra Raisi-Estabragh & Michele Veldsman & Betty Raman & Andrea Dennis & Masud Husain & Thomas E. Nichols & Steffen E. Petersen & Stefan Neubauer, 2022. "Multi-organ imaging demonstrates the heart-brain-liver axis in UK Biobank participants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Bob Bramson & Sjoerd Meijer & Annelies Nuland & Ivan Toni & Karin Roelofs, 2023. "Anxious individuals shift emotion control from lateral frontal pole to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Arielle S. Keller & Adam R. Pines & Sheila Shanmugan & Valerie J. Sydnor & Zaixu Cui & Maxwell A. Bertolero & Ran Barzilay & Aaron F. Alexander-Bloch & Nora Byington & Andrew Chen & Gregory M. Conan &, 2023. "Personalized functional brain network topography is associated with individual differences in youth cognition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Md. Mominur Rahman & Bilkis Akhter, 2021. "The impact of investment in human capital on bank performance: evidence from Bangladesh," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. César Merino-Soto & Gina Chávez-Ventura & Verónica López-Fernández & Guillermo M. Chans & Filiberto Toledano-Toledano, 2022. "Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-L): Psychometric and Measurement Invariance Evidence in Peruvian Undergraduate Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Nathaniel Oliver Iotti & Damiano Menin & Tomas Jungert, 2022. "Early Adolescents’ Motivations to Defend Victims of Cyberbullying," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    7. Andreea-Ionela Puiu & Anca Monica Ardeleanu & Camelia Cojocaru & Anca Bratu, 2021. "Exploring the Effect of Status Quo, Innovativeness, and Involvement Tendencies on Luxury Fashion Innovations: The Mediation Role of Status Consumption," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "On evasion behaviour in public transport: Dissatisfaction or contagion?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 626-651.
    9. Merkle, Edgar C. & Steyvers, Mark & Mellers, Barbara & Tetlock, Philip E., 2017. "A neglected dimension of good forecasting judgment: The questions we choose also matter," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 817-832.
    10. Sai-fu Fung & Esther Oi-wah Chow & Chau-kiu Cheung, 2020. "Development and Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of a Brief Wisdom Development Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Dang Vu, Hoai Nam & Nielsen, Martin Reinhardt, 2022. "Understanding determinants of the intention to buy rhino horn in Vietnam through the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    12. Georges Steffgen & Philipp E. Sischka & Martha Fernandez de Henestrosa, 2020. "The Quality of Work Index and the Quality of Employment Index: A Multidimensional Approach of Job Quality and Its Links to Well-Being at Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-31, October.
    13. Zaitun Mohd Saman & Ab Hamid Siti-Azrin & Azizah Othman & Yee Cheng Kueh, 2021. "The Validity and Reliability of the Malay Version of the Cyberbullying Scale among Secondary School Adolescents in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.
    14. Dennis Cook, R. & Forzani, Liliana, 2023. "On the role of partial least squares in path analysis for the social sciences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    15. Castaldo, Sandro & Ciacci, Andrea & Penco, Lara, 2023. "Perceived corporate social responsibility and job satisfaction in grocery retail: A comparison between low- and high-productivity stores," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    16. Daniel Hoppe, 2021. "Argument-Based Versus Emotion-Based Videos During the Early Stages of Recruitment: Effects on Perceived Employer Brand Image, Application Intentions, and Positive Word-of-Mouth," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(1), pages 31-47, February.
    17. Chen, Junhong & Nian, Yefan & Gao, Zhifeng, 2022. "Value, Attitude/Belief, and Sustainable Food Consumption," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322485, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    18. Pezzuti, Lina & Tommasi, Marco & Saggino, Aristide & Dawe, James & Lauriola, Marco, 2020. "Gender differences and measurement bias in the assessment of adult intelligence: Evidence from the Italian WAIS-IV and WAIS-R standardizations," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    19. N. Dardenne & B. Pétré & E. Husson & M. Guillaume & A. F. Donneau, 2020. "Assessing Quality of Life in an Obesity Observational Study: a Structural Equation Modeling Approach," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 1117-1133, September.
    20. Matthew Rosenblatt & Link Tejavibulya & Rongtao Jiang & Stephanie Noble & Dustin Scheinost, 2024. "Data leakage inflates prediction performance in connectome-based machine learning models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:102:y:2024:i:c:s0160289623000855. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/intelligence .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.