Psychometric Tests as Cognitive Tasks: A New 'Structure of Intellect'.
Abstract
After consideration of the drawbacks of such psychometrically derived theories of cognitive abilities as those of Guttman, Cattell, and Guilford, appeal is made to E. B. Hunt's 'distributive memory' model and A. Newell's concept of the 'production system' as possible bases for developing an alternative theory. Such a theory of cognitive abilities rests upon the individual differences displayed in the parameters of the tasks found in typical tests of intelligence. As first step toward developing a new 'structure of intellect' model, a detailed subjective analysis is made of the cognitive processes involved in two tests designed to measure each of the 24 factors in the 1963 version of the 'Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors'. It is held that the study of individual differences in abilities can profit greatly if it is closely tied to the experimental analysis of particular cognitive tasks; at the same time, work in the experimental tradition should pay close attention to the problem of identifying sources of variance that are due to individual differences in task parameters. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0780450
Entities
People
- John B. Carroll
Organizations
- Educational Testing Service