Fluid and crystallized intelligence and broad perceptual factors among 11 to 12 year olds.

Abstract

A battery of 36 visual and auditory tests was given to a sample of 113 primary school children. Second-order analysis of the data yielded two well-defined factors representing Fluid (Gf) and Crystallized (Gc) Intelligence and two perceptual factors corresponding to General Visualization (Gv) and General Auditory Function (Ga). Perceptual factors were not clearly separated from broad intellective factors at this age level. Factor analyses of large batteries of tests consisting of markers for the well-replicated primary abilities usually lead to extraction of two broad factors at the second order. Both factors involve the processes of perceiving relationships, educing correlates, reasoning, abstracting, attaining concepts, and solving problems, that is, the processes usually claimed to be important for intelligent behavior. One of these two factors, Fluid Intelligence (Gf), is involved in tasks in which relatively little advantage accrues from intensive or extended education and acculturation; the other one, Crystallized Intelligence (Gc), represents tasks in which either the content or the operations involved depend on education and acculturation. This theory, now known as the theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence (Gf-Gc theory), was first proposed by Cattell and then supplemented by Horn (

Measurement and Statistical Models in the Study of Personality and Intelligence

“…Cattell (1982b) resolved this apparent discrepancy by factor analyzing Thurstone's primary mental ability intercorrelations, and found that at the higher-order level, general factors (Gf and Gc) emerged (cf. Boyle, 1988b;Stankov, 1978Stankov, , 1983Stankov, , 1986Stankov & Chen, 1988;Stankov, Horn, & Roy, 1980). Hence, both Spearman's and Thurstone's findings were compatible, but represented different levels of the hierarchical structure of abilities.…”

Competing tasks as an index of intelligence

“…Another possibility is suggested by our previous work with auditory tests (e.g. Horn and Stankov, 1981;Stankov, 1978). Auditory variables in this work define a broad auditory function, Ga, which transcends tonal quality and involves perception of rhythm and perception of distorted or distracted speech.…”

“…The tests were selected in such a way that they might serve to define four well-replicated primary factors in Gf/Gc theory (Horn, 1973;Horn and Stankov, 1981;Stankov, 1978;1979;. It was hoped that the emergence of a clear factorial structure in the single tests would serve as a basis for comparison with previous studies which have used these tests and also as a basis for comparison with results involving competing tasks.…”

Models and Paradigms in Personality and Intelligence Research

“…First, the factor structure of abilities and personality is remarkably similar across different racial and ethnic groups (Cattell, 1987a;Jensen, 1980). Thus, the structure of auditory abilities has been replicated in the USA , Yugoslavia (Stankov, 1978), and Australia (Stankov & Spilsbury, 1978). Likewise, the 16PF personality structure has been replicated crossculturally (see Cattell, 1973).…”