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Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
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Working Memory, Fluid Reasoning, and Complex Problem Solving: Different Results Explained by the Brunswik Symmetry.

André Kretzschmar1, Stephan Nebe2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/7, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland.

Journal of Intelligence
|January 26, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Working memory does not uniquely predict complex problem solving (CPS) beyond fluid reasoning. The Brunswik symmetry principle explains inconsistent findings due to varying operationalizations, impacting CPS variance significantly.

Keywords:
Brunswik symmetrybandwidth-fidelity dilemmacomplex problem solvingintelligencemeasurementreasoningstructural equation modelingworking memory

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • Complex problem solving (CPS) research lacks consensus on its relationship with cognitive abilities like working memory and intelligence.
  • Inconsistent findings may stem from differing operationalizations of cognitive constructs, as suggested by the Brunswik symmetry principle.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incremental predictive validity of working memory for CPS beyond fluid reasoning.
  • To examine the influence of the Brunswik symmetry principle on the relationship between working memory, fluid reasoning, and CPS.

Main Methods:

  • Examined 16 different combinations of operationalizations for working memory and fluid reasoning in 152 participants.
  • Employed structural equation modeling with single-indicator latent variables to control for measurement error.

Main Results:

  • Working memory incrementally explained CPS variance in only 2 out of 16 conditions, suggesting limited unique contribution.
  • The Brunswik symmetry principle highlighted asymmetrical comparisons, artificially favoring working memory in some conditions.
  • Explained variance in CPS fluctuated significantly (4-31%) based on the chosen operationalizations.

Conclusions:

  • There is minimal evidence for a unique role of working memory in complex problem solving independent of fluid reasoning.
  • The Brunswik symmetry principle is crucial for understanding and mitigating inconsistencies in cognitive ability research.
  • Future studies on cognitive interplay should incorporate the Brunswik principle for more robust findings.