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Strategy use fully mediates the relationship between working memory capacity and performance on Raven's matrices
Corentin Gonthier1, Noémylle Thomassin2
1University of Grenoble.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|September 29, 2015
Summary
Individual differences in strategy use, not just working memory capacity, explain performance on fluid intelligence tasks. When everyone uses the same effective strategy, the link between working memory and intelligence weakens.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Intelligence Studies
Background:
- Working memory capacity (WMC) is strongly correlated with fluid intelligence (Gf).
- The role of strategy use in mediating the WMC-Gf relationship has been hypothesized but not directly tested.
- Understanding this link is crucial for cognitive theories and educational interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate whether strategy use mediates the relationship between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence.
- To determine if manipulating strategy use affects the correlation between WMC and performance on intelligence tasks.
- To explore the theoretical integration of working memory, strategy use, and high-level cognition.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted: a combined experimental-correlational design (N=250) and a self-report strategy measure (N=93).
- Participants completed Raven's matrices, a measure of fluid intelligence, under manipulated or measured strategy conditions.
- Statistical analyses examined mediation and the impact of strategy manipulation on the WMC-performance correlation.
Main Results:
- Inducing an effective strategy in all participants significantly reduced the correlation between working memory capacity and Raven's matrices performance.
- Strategy use was found to fully mediate the relationship between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence.
- Individual differences in strategic behavior were identified as the primary driver of working memory's predictive power for cognitive tasks.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that strategy use is a key mediator in the working memory-fluid intelligence link.
- Individual differences in strategic approach, rather than solely working memory capacity, largely account for variations in fluid intelligence.
- This research provides empirical support for integrated cognitive frameworks explaining high-level cognition.
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