ERIC Number: EJ1240603
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Feb
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
General Intelligence and Specific Cognitive Abilities in Adolescence: Tests of Age Differentiation, Ability Differentiation, and Their Interaction in Two Large Samples
Breit, Moritz; Brunner, Martin; Preckel, Franzis
Developmental Psychology, v56 n2 p364-384 Feb 2020
Differentiation of intelligence refers to changes in the structure of intelligence that depend on individuals' level of general cognitive ability (ability differentiation hypothesis) or age (developmental differentiation hypothesis). The present article aimed to investigate ability differentiation, developmental differentiation, and their interaction with nonlinear factor analytic models in 2 studies. Study 1 was comprised of a nationally representative sample of 7,127 U.S. students (49.4% female; M[subscript age] = 14.51, SD = 1.42, range = 12.08-17.00) who completed the computerized adaptive version of the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery. Study 2 analyzed the norming sample of the Berlin Intelligence Structure Test with 1,506 German students (44% female; M[subscript age] = 14.54, SD = 1.35, range = 10.00-18.42). Results of Study 1 supported the ability differentiation hypothesis but not the developmental differentiation hypothesis. Rather, the findings pointed to age-dedifferentiation (i.e., higher correlations between different abilities with increasing age). There was evidence for an interaction between age and ability differentiation, with greater ability differentiation found for older adolescents. Study 2 provided little evidence for ability differentiation but largely replicated the findings for age dedifferentiation and the interaction between age and ability differentiation. The present results provide insight into the complex dynamics underlying the development of intelligence structure during adolescence. Implications for the assessment of intelligence are discussed.
Descriptors: Intelligence, Cognitive Ability, Adolescents, Age Differences, Individual Development, Aptitude Tests, Armed Forces, Vocational Aptitude, Intelligence Tests, Cognitive Development, National Surveys, Longitudinal Studies, Adolescent Development
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; National Longitudinal Survey of Youth
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A