Crystallised and fluid ability change across age and a psychometric evaluation of the GRT2 : a cross-sectional analysis :a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
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Date
2011
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Massey University
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Abstract
This paper critically evaluated many psychometric properties of the General
Reasoning Test (GRT2) and examined age changes in Crystallised and Fluid ability
across the 16- to 58-year age range, as represented by the Verbal and Abstract GRT2
scales, respectively. Respondent data came from a large New Zealand-based
archived group (N=5075) of individuals whom had completed the assessment as a
component of general-level pre-employment information gathering. The
psychometric evaluation found the GRT2 to possess adequate internal consistency,
and a sub-adequate item-difficulty distribution, for both the Abstract and Verbal
scales. A cross-sectional analysis of ability suggested a significant linear decline in
Fluid intelligence and non-significant change in Crystallised intelligence, across age.
Furthermore, heterogeneity of Fluid ability variance appeared to increase
significantly across age, whereas Crystallised ability variance did not. Results were
interpreted in the context of Horn’s theory, especially with the distinction between
vulnerable and maintained abilities. Limitations and suggestions for future research
are discussed.
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Keywords
Intelligence tests, Crystallised intelligence, Fluid intelligence, Age and intelligence, General Reasoning Test (GRT2), Ability testing, Verbal scales, Abstract scales, Psychometric properties, New Zealand