Dennis P. Saccuzzo

Cognitive correlates of general intelligence: Toward a process theory of g

Abstract The cognitive correlates literature suggests that a general ability, probably Spearmans g , underlies most information processing/intelligence relationships. In the present paper we suggest that the nature of g is clarified by the following patterns: (a) response consistency has better predictive and convergent validity than does response speed, and (b) tasks which demand dynamic memory processing predict intelligence better than do tasks which require only stimulus encoding and simple stimulus/response translations. Accordingly, g appears related to the ability to flexibly and consistently reconfigure the contents of working memory. A possible physiological basis of this ability is the recruitment of the transient neural assemblies which underly thought (after Hebb, 1949).

Backward masking as a measure of slow processing in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Three groups of hospitalized adolescents (schizophrenics, schizotypal personalities, and borderline personality adolescent adjustment reactions) with 10 subjects in each group were compared for their ability to identify masked and unmasked stimuli. Results revealed that the schizophrenic group required longer minimum exposure durations for criterion identification of unmasked stimuli than the other two groups (p < .01). Under conditions of visual backward masking, however, schizotypal personalities as well as schizophrenics showed a relative deficit. Results supported Hestons notion that schizophrenia spectrum disorders may be different degrees of expression of the same underlying defect. Previous results with visual backward masking in adults were also extended to adolescents. The findings were consistent with a slow information processing hypothesis for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Theoretical implications of this hypothesis are discussed.

Child Custody Mediation in Cases of Domestic Violence Empirical Evidence of a Failure to Protect

Mediation of child custody disputes is mandated in several states. Investigators have averred that victims of domestic violence (DV) are greatly disadvantaged in mediation. The present study empirically evaluated outcomes and found that mediators failed to recognize and report DVin 56.9% of the DV cases. The court’s screening form failed to indicate DV in at least 14.7% of the violent cases. Mediation resulted in poor outcomes for DV victims in terms of protections, such as supervised visitation and protected child exchanges. Mediator capacity to focus on the child’s best interest was called into question. Child custody mediation should not be mandated in cases of DV.

Gender differences in dynamic spatial abilities

Gender differences in spatial ability were evaluated for two computerized dynamic (one power and one speed) and two static paper and pencil (one power and one speed) tests over sessions. Four factors were evaluated in a factorial design: gender, practice (i.e. session), paper and pencil vs dynamic (i.e. computerized) spatial tests, and power vs speed. A total of 250 paid volunteer men and women were tested in a counterbalanced design over two sessions. Results revealed two significant (P < 0.05) triple interactions involving gender, session, and power vs speed as well as dynamic vs paper and pencil tests. Although men generally did better than women and all subjects improved with practice, women improved at a faster rate for the speeded computer task and were not statistically different from the men at session 2. Future research should be directed toward two main thrusts: the effects of practice on the power tests and the effect of practice on the predictive validity of the speeded computerized tests.

Negative and positive cognition in depressed and nondepressed chronic-pain patients.

Several studies have suggested that depressed pain patients evidence more cognitive distortion than nondepressed pain patients and healthy controls. Although these studies have generally supported notions relating cognitive distortion to depressive functioning, other aspects of dysfunctional cognition have not been assessed in the chronic-pain population. The present study examined negative and positive automatic thoughts and attributional style in depressed pain patients, nondepressed pain patients, and healthy controls. Depressed chronic-pain patients were found to exhibit significantly more negative automatic thoughts than nondepressed pain patients and healthy controls. Conversely, nondepressed chronic-pain patients reported significantly more positive automatic thoughts than did depressed patients and healthy controls. No significant differences were found for attributional style. These results suggest that different cognitive-behavioral interventions might be considered for depressed compared to nondepressed chronic-pain patients.

MMPI subgroups and affective disorder in chronic pain patients.

Patients with chronic pain syndromes are commonly depressed. Chronic pain populations also contain distinct subgroups of personality profiles as defined by the MMPI. To assess the relevance of personality subtype to affective disorder we determined the relationship of psychiatric diagnoses defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) to MMPI subgroups in a sample of hospitalized patients with predominantly chronic low back pain. RDC psychiatric diagnoses for the sample were major depression (44.2%), minor depression (19.2%), other psychiatric disorder (13.5%), and no mental disorder (21.6%). Patients satisfying RDC criteria for major depression were significantly associated with discrete MMPI personality subtypes. No other psychiatric diagnoses were significantly associated with distinct personality subgroups. No relationship was observed between personality profile and presence of demonstrable organic etiology for pain. These findings indicate that behavioral and pharmacological interventions directed at depression as well as pain are important in the treatment of chronic pain populations, especially in selected subgroups.

Information-Processing in Gifted versus Nongifted African-American, Latino, Filipino, and White Children: Speeded versus Nonspeeded Paradigms.

Abstract One hundred and sixty children were evaluated in a battery of four information-processing tasks: inspection time (backward masking paradigm), reaction time, coincidence timing, and mental counters (working memory). Half of the children were certified as gifted in a case study analysis; half were selected from the nongifted program in the same school district. Within each group (gifted vs. nongifted), half were in second to third grade and half in fifth to sixth grade. Finally, for each of the two main factors (Giftedness and Grade), there were an equal number of children from four ethnic backgrounds: African American, Latino, Filipino, and White. There were large differences on all four information-processing tasks as a function of grade and membership in the gifted program. Correlational analyses revealed that measures of speed of processing, particularly inspection time, were the primary correlates of both IQ and membership in the gifted program. The correlation coefficient (r = .44) between a summary composite of the information-processing tasks and scores on the Standard Raven Progressive Matrices (SPM) test was significant. In addition, a significant relationship (r = .30) between coincidence timing and scores on the SPM was confirmed. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Input Capability and Speed of Processing in Mental Retardation

The minimum stimulus duration for criterion accuracy and the minimum interval between presentation of a test and presentation of a masking stimulus for criterion accuracy were determined for mildly and moderately retarded adults and normal controls of the same mental and chronological age. The procedure was replicated three times in three separate sessions. Results indicated that both retarded groups required longer stimulus durations as well as longer masking intervals for criterion accuracy than did both the mental age and the chronological age control groups. Results were interpreted as consistent with deficiencies in both iconic storage and speed of information processing in mental retardation. These deficiencies, furthermore, cannot be accounted for on the basis of low mental age. Information processing theory, which assumes human behavior can be analyzed in terms of discrete stages or processes, has opened new avenues of research in psychopathology. In viewing a response as only the end product of a series of processes, it becomes possible to specify the correlates of observed performance deficits more accurately than could otherwise be done. In mental retardation research, for example, considerable controversy has centered around the underlying source of performance deficits related to visual information processing (see Spitz, 1973). One major issue concerns whether observed differences between retarded and nonretarded persons on tasks related to visual processing can be explained solely on the basis of low mental age in the retarded persons (e.g., Galbraith & Gliddon, 1972; Spitz & Thor, 1968; Thor, 1970; Welsandt & Meyer, 1974). Another major unresolved issue concerns which stage or stages of processing are most impaired in retarded persons. Libkuman and Friedrich (1972) spoke of limitations in brief perceptual memory or, as Neisser (1967) called it, iconic

Equating the Standard and Advanced Forms of the Raven Progressive Matrices

Raw scores on the Standard and Advanced forms of the Raven Progressive Matrices were rescaled in a college sample by means of equipercentile equating to yield a common scale that accommodates a wider range of talent than do the raw scores of either form. The common scale is expressed as IQ with mean and standard deviation equated to the national normative sample for the Otis-Lennon IQ Mental Ability Test.

Motivation: Cause or confound in information processing/intelligence correlations?

The goal of the present study was to determine whether correlations between information processing scores and intelligence can be explained in terms of between-subject motivational differences. One hundred and nine male and female volunteer college students were tested on a battery of microcomputerized cognitive tests. One hundred of these subjects returned for a second session in which they were randomly assigned to an incentive or no-incentive condition and then retested. The effort expended on the tests was measured via heart rate, skin conductance, and a self-report questionnaire. Criterion measures, including the Advanced Otis-Lennon Test of Mental Abilities and Advanced Raven Progressive Matrices were also taken. The findings revealed that incentives had relatively modest effects on performance. In no case, however, did incentives affect the overall IQ-performance correlation for the tests used in the battery. These results support the view that correlations between information processing scores and intelligence reflect common mental capacities, rather than some affective variable such as motivation.