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Individual differences in working memory within a nomological network of cognitive and perceptual speed abilities
Phillip L Ackerman1, Margaret E Beier, Mary O Boyle
1School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Psychology Building, 274 5th Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0170, USA. phillip.ackerman@psych.gatech.edu
Abstract:
It has become fashionable to equate constructs of working memory (WM) and general intelligence (g). Few investigations have provided direct evidence that WM and g measures yield similar ordering of individuals. Correlational investigations have yielded mixed results. The authors assess the construct space for WM and g and demonstrate that WM shares substantial variance with perceptual speed (PS) constructs. Thirty-six ability tests representing verbal, numerical, spatial, and PS abilities; the Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices; and 7 WM tests were administered to 135 adults. A nomological representation for WM is provided through a series of cognitive and PS ability models. Construct overlap between PS and WM is further investigated with attention to complexity, processing differences, and practice effects.