Think! Evidence

Are Individual Differences in Performance on Perceptual and Cognitive Optimization Problems Determined by General Intelligence?

Show simple item record

dc.creator Burns, Nicholas R.
dc.creator Lee, Michael D.
dc.creator Vickers, Douglas
dc.date 2006-12-05T20:51:49Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-24T14:18:13Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-24T14:18:13Z
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jps/vol1/iss1/3
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/25605
dc.description Studies of human problem solving have traditionally used deterministic tasks that require the execution of a systematic series of steps to reach a rational and optimal solution. Most real-world problems, however, are characterized by uncertainty, the need to consider an enormous number of variables and possible courses of action at each stage in solving the problem, and the need to optimize the solution subject to multiple interacting constraints. There are reliable individual differences in people’s abilities to solve such realistic problems. It also seems likely that people’s ability to solve these difficult problems reflects, or depends on, their intelligence. We report on a study of N = 101 adults who completed a series of visual optimization problems (Traveling Salesperson, Minimum Spanning Tree, and Generalized Steiner Tree Problems), as well as a cognitive optimization problem (a version of the Secretary Problem). We also characterized these individuals along three relevant and important cognitive abilities dimensions--fluid ability, visuo-spatial ability, and cognitive processing speed. Modeling of covariance structures indicated that performance on both types of optimization problems relies on general intelligence and raises the possibility that they can be used to assess intelligence.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.publisher Purdue University
dc.source The Journal of Problem Solving
dc.title Are Individual Differences in Performance on Perceptual and Cognitive Optimization Problems Determined by General Intelligence?
dc.type Article


Files in this item

Files Size Format View

There are no files associated with this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search Think! Evidence


Browse

My Account