Cognitive Factors: Some Recent Literature.

113 Pages·2011·1.59 MB·English

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 080 596
TM 003 113
AUTHOR
Ekstrom, Ruth B.
TITLE
Cognitive Factors: Some Recent Literature..
INSTITUTION
Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J.
SPONS AGENCY
Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va.
REPORT NO
PR-73-30; TR-2
PUB DATE
Jul 73
NOTE
111p.
EDRS PRICE
MF-$0.65 HC-$6.58
DESCRIPTORS
*Cognitive Tests; *Factor Analysis; *Intelligence
Factors; Literature Reviews; *Test Reviews; *Test
Selection
IDENTIFIERS
*Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors
ABSTRACT
This report is on one aspect of a study that is
trying to provide a reference basis for different researchers
in
their combined efforts to conceptualize and develop
a theory and
structure of human abilities and temperament. Specifically, the study
is directed toward the identification of tests and other instruments
that can serve as markers for well established factors. The
present
report is based on a review of analytical studies in the cognitive
domain published in the decade 1963-1973. The first section
of this
review gives a brief description of different theories and
models of
cognitive factors. It is followed by
a short summary of some of the
major issues raised by the research on cognitive
factors. Then the
current status is described of each of the 24 factors in the 1963
edition of the Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive
Factors. The need
to reconceptualize many of the factors in light of research findings
is discussed. The final section of the report describes
new factors
which have appeared in the literature. Recommendations
are made for
the possible coverage in a revised Kit of Reference
Tests such
factors as chunking memory, concept formation, figural fluency,
integration, memory for order, visual memory, and verbal closure.
(Author)
FILMED FROM BEST AVATLABLE COPY
F
PR-73-30
COGNITIVE FACTORS: SOME RECENT LITERATURE
1
by
Ruth B. Ekstrom
July 1973
Technical Report No. 2
Research Sponsored by the
Office of Naval Research
under
Contract N00014-71-C-0117
NR 150 329
Harry H. Harman
Principal Investigator
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.
Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any
purpose of the United States Government.
Educational Testing Service
Princeton, New Jersey
Some Recent Literature
Cognitive Factors:
by
Ruth B. Ekstrom
July, 1973
Research Sponsored By The
Office of Naval Research
under
Contract N00014-71-C-0117
NR 150 329
Harry H. Harman
Principal Investigator
Technical Report No.
2
Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited
Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the
United States Government
Unclassified
St., tint% Classatcation
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Sr. wit; i lassilitatian of title. buds of ahstrai I and index ine .nerotation not
I In entered ohen the overall report s
i lass i lied)
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T V (Corporate author)
OsigGisis aNG AC T 1 v i
Zo. 74 L7'01-4 7 SECUrit TV Gt. A',S1 i IC A T1ON
.
Unclassified
2b.
Educational Testing Service
G "O""
3 REPORT TITLE
Cognitive Factors:
Some Recent Lit.:--ature
4 OCSC PIP 7 i VE NOTES (Type 4,1 report and inclusive dates)
Technical Report
Au TNOR St (First name. middle initial. last home,
Ruth B. Ekstrom
in TOTAL NC OF PAGES
76 NO or REFS
6 REPORT DA TE
234
July, 1973
99
96 ORIGINATORS REPORT Nt.,,ASERtS)
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N00014-71-C-0117
PR-73-30
h. PROJEG s NO
NR 150-329
0T.-.ER PEPORT NOISI (Any other numbers that may be assigned
this repor)
Technical Report No. 2
d
C:ISTWE11,''ON 5.A.'F:44E%.
^
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
SPOSORi.G MILi TAR v AG 1.11T
, sLepLf.,..E...A ..0-
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Office of Naval Research
22217
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A es -P Ac*-
13
This report is on one aspect of a study that is trying to provide a reference
basis for different researchers in their combined efforts to conceptualize and develop
Specifically, the study
a theory and structure of human abilities and temperament.
is directed toward the identification of tests and other instruments that can serve
as markers for well established factors.
The present report is based on a review of analytical studies in the cognitive
The first section of this review gives a
domain published in the decade 1963-1973.
It is fol-
brief description of different theories and models of cognitive factors.
lowed by a short summary of some of the major issues raised by the research on cogni-
Then the current status is described of each of the 24 factors in the
tive factors.
1963 edition of the Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors.
The net-Ai to recon-
ceptualize many of the factors in light of research findings is discussed.
The final section of the report describes new factors which have appeared in the
Recommendations are made for the possible coverage in a revised Kit of
Jiteratrre.
Reference Tests such factors as chunking memory, concept formation, figural fluency,
integration, memory for order, visual memory, and verbal closure.
(PAGE 1)
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(PAGE 2)
Security Classification
Technical Report
Some Recent Literature
Cognitive Factors:
Ruth B. Ekstrom
Abstract
of analytic studies in the cognitive
This report is based on a review
The main purposes of the review
domain published in the decade 1963-1973.
of Reference
the factors included in the Kit
were to consider the status of
might
consider what additional factors
Tests for Cognitive Factors and to
be added to a revised Kit.
brief description of different
The first section of this review gives a
It is followed by a short summary
theories and models of cognitive factors.
research on cognitive factors.
of some of the major issues raised by the
of
describes the current status of each
The third section of the review
The need to recon-
edition of the Kit.
the 24 factors included in the 1963
of research findings is discussed.
ceptualize many of the factors in light
mechani-
of the length estimation and
Major recommendations include the removal
Kit, the development of new marker tests
cal knowledge factors from the revised
better
flexibility, the development of
fo1 speed of closure and for adaptive
further
spontaneous flexibility, and
scoring procedures for originality and
semantic redefinition, and sensitivity to
study of the expressional fluency,
demonstrated as is desirable
'problems factors which have not been as clearly
for inclusion in the Kit.
describes new factors which have appeared
The final section of the report
factors of concept for-
Recommendations are made to include
in the literature.
visual memory, and verbal closure in the
mation, figural fluency, integration,
demonstrated
Kit since each has been fairly clearly
new revision of the Factor
in several studies.
Table of Contents
Page
1
Introductio-i
3
Relation of Established Factors to Existing Models
3
Thurstone
4
Cattell
7
Guilford
8
Guttman
11
Royce
11
Harris
14
Some Unresolved Issues
20
Current Status of Established Factors
20
Flexibility of Closure
22
Speed of Closure
25
Associational Fluency
28
Expressional Fluency
.29
Ideational Fluency
33
Word Fluency
34
Induction
38
Length Estimation
38
Mechanical Knowledge
38
Associative Memory
40
Span Memory
42
Number Facility
45
Originality
Page
Perceptual Speed
46
50
General Reasoning
53
Semantic Redefinition
Syllogistic Reasoning
55
Spatial Orientation
56
58
Sensitivity to Problems
60
Spatial Scanning
61
Verbal Comprehension
63
Visualization
64
Figural Adaptive Flexibility
66
Spontaneous Semantic Flexibility
69
Possible New Factors
69
Automatic Processes
70
Behavioral Relations and Systems
71
Chunking Memory
72
Concept Formation
74
Estimation
75
Figural Fluency
75
Figural Illusions and Perceptual Alternations
76
Figural Relations
77
Integration
78
Meaningful Memory
80
Memory for Order
80
Visual Memory
82
Verbal Closure
83
References
Technical Report
1
Some Recent Literature
Cognitive Factors:
2
Ruth B. Ekstrom
This report is on one aspect of a study that is trying to provide a
reference basis for different researchers in their combined efforts to con-
ceptualize and develop a theory and structure of human abilities and tempera-
Specifically, the study is directed toward the identification of tests
ment.
The results of such
that can serve as markers for well established factors.
research should go a long way in providing a structure for the cognitive
domain of human abilities and a beginning for a comparable structure for the
Such theoretical structures are founded on
temperament domain of personality.
empirical evidence and are amenable to continued challenge and verification.
Researchers would be expected to use the resulting factor Kits by selecting a
small number of tests as markers for testing conjectures about factors in their
studies.
To help set general guidelines for procedures to be used in the study a
conference was conversed which included 20 prominent persons in the area of
Three guidelines that emerged are as
factor analysis and human assessment.
(1) A factor will be considered as "established" and markers for it
fyllows:
will be included in the Kit if it is possible to identify it in at least three
analyses performed in at least two different laboratories.
(2) At least three
tests will be provided as markers for each established cognitive factor; at
1
This study was supported by Office of Naval Research Contract
Opinions stated do not necessarily represent ONRposi-
N00014-71-C-0117.
tion or policy.
2
The author wishes to thank John W. French for his m.ny helpful
suggestions and comments on an earlier draft of this review.
-2-
least four measures will be provided as markers for an established non-
cognitive factor, two for each of the opposite poles. (3) Newly developed
tests and other measures for both the cognitive and noncognitive domains will
be field tested in order to determine some of their basic statistical prop-
erties and to check their factorial content.
This technical, report is aimed at the identification of "established"
factors in the cognitive domain from a search of the literature.
Such fac-
torsserve as the basis for the developmer
of marker tests in the study.
The literature search for the establishment of noncognitive factors is in a
parallel report by John French.
Psychomotor factors are not included.
Analyses restricted to second-order and other higher order factor analyses
are generally omitted.
Earlier work (French, Ekstrom, & Price, 1963) concluded that 24 cogni-
tive factors had been sufficiently well established to be included in the
Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors.
This review will consider the
status of these factors as well as considering what additional factors might
be added to a revised Kit.
As in earlier studies, the criterion for deciding that a factor is
"established" is that it is reported in at least three separate studies and
that these studies be done by at least two different researchers or labora-
tories.
Thus, no one researcher's factors are considered established unless
they have been replicated by others.
The matching of factors across studies is dependent, not only upon the
researcher's interpretation, but also upon the reviewer's analysis of the
tests or tasks which load on these factors.
The search here is for the
psychological meaning of the factors not a mere matching of semantic terms