Psychometric analysis of the systemizing quotient (SQ) scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The systemizing quotient (SQ) is a measure developed to assess the drive to systemize.
• Previous research has debated the factor structure of the SQ and its relationship with intelligence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychometric properties of the systemizing quotient (SQ).
• To examine whether the ability to systemize is independent of general intelligence.
• To evaluate different factor structures of the SQ.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analyses were employed in Studies 1 and 2 to examine the SQ's factor structure.
• Study 3 investigated the relationship between systemizing, mental rotation, and intelligence.
• Different versions of the SQ, including a revised four-factor structure, were compared.

Main Results:

• The SQ does not exhibit a unifactorial structure; a four-factor model provided a better fit to the data.
• Systemizing ability was found to be unrelated to intelligence.
• Mental rotation ability was correlated with SQ but was not its primary determinant.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the view that systemizing ability is independent of intelligence.
• A revised four-factor structure of the SQ offers a more robust measurement.
• Challenges in self-report measures and the measurement of systemizing are acknowledged.