The primary intent of this research was to determine whether the Processing Speed Factor scores of the WISC-III would distinguish between groups of clinically referred children. A total of 311 elementary, junior high, and senior high students were grouped according to ADHD, VMI, behavioral, low academic achievement categories, and physical health problems or absence of such problems. Multiple comparisons using the Newman-Keuls and multiple regression techniques indicated that processing speed was a significant diagnostic factor differing between clinical groups. Anderson's (1992) model of the cognitive architecture of the mind was used to explain the specfic findings.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson, M. (1992). Intelligence and development: A cognitive theory . Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
2.
Beauducel, A., & Brocke, B. (1993). Intelligence and speed of information-processing: Further results and questions on the Hick's Paradigm and beyond. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 627-636.
3.
Carlson, J.S., & Widaman, K.F. (1987). Elementary cognitive correlates of G: Progress and prospects. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 69-99). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
4.
Detterman, D.K. (1987). What does reaction time tell us about intelligence? In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information- processing and intelligence (pp. 177-200). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Eysenck, H.L. (1987). Speed of information-processing, reaction time, and the theory of intelligence. In P.A. Vemon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 21-67). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
7.
Eysenck, H.L. (1988). The concept of intelligence: Useful or useless ? Intelligence, 12,1-16.
8.
Gazzaniga, M.S. (1985). The social brain. New York : Basic Books.
9.
Guilford, J.P. (1966). Intelligence: 1965 model. American Psychologist, 21, 20-26.
10.
Hertzog, C. (1987). Applications of structural equation models in gerontological research. In K. Werner Shaie (Ed.), Annual review in gerontology and geriatrics (vol. 7, pp. 265-293). New York: Springer.
11.
Hick, W.E. (1952). On the rate of gain of information. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 45,11-26.
12.
Horn, J.L. (1987). A context for understanding information-processing studies of human abilities. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 201-238). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
13.
Jensen, A.R. (1982). Reaction time and psychometric g. In H.J. Eysenck (Ed.), A model for intelligence (pp. 93-132). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
14.
Jensen, A.R. (1987). Individual differences in the Hick paradigm. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of informafion-processing and intelligence (pp. 101-175). Norwoad, NJ : Ablex.
15.
Jensen, A.R., & Reed, T.E. (1990). Simple reaction time as a suppressor variable in the chronometric study of intelligence. Intelligence, 14,375-388.
16.
Kamphaus, R.W., & Platt, L.O. (1992). Subtest specificities for the WISC-III. Psychological Reports, 70,899-902.
17.
Keating, D.P., & MacLean, D.J. (1987). Cognitive processing, cognitive ability, and development: A reconsideration. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 239-270). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
18.
Kramer, J.H. (1993). Interpretation of individual subtest scores on the WISC-III. Psychological Assessment, 5(2),193-196.
19.
Lindley, R.H., Smith, W.R., & Thomas, T.J. (1988). The relationship between speed of information-processing as measured by timed paper-and-pencil tests and psychometric intelligence . Intelligence, 12,7-25.
20.
Longstreth, L.E. (1984). Jensen's reaction time investigation of intelligence: A critique. Infelligence, 8,139-160.
21.
Longstreth, L.E. (1986). The real and the unreal: A reply to Jensen and Vernon. Intelligence, 10,181-191.
22.
Marr, D.B., & Sternberg, R.J. (1987). The role of mental speed in intelligence: A triarchic perspective. In P.A. Vemon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 271-294). Nonvood, NJ: Ablex.
23.
Nettelbeck, T. (1987). Inspection time and intelligence. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp. 295-346). Norvood, NJ: Ablex.
24.
Neubauer, A.C. (1990). Speed of information-processing in the Hick Paradigm and response latencies in a psychometric intelligence test. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 147-152.
25.
Rabbitt, P.M.A. (1985). Oh g Dr. Jensen! or, g-ing up cognitive psychology? Open peer commentary. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 8, 238-239.
26.
Roth, E. (1964). Die Geschwindigkeit der Verarbeitung von Information und ihr Zusammenhang mit Intelligenz. Zeitschrift für Experimentelle und Angewandte Psychologie, 11, 616-622.
27.
Saklofske, D.H., Schwean, V.L., Yackulic, R.A., & Quinn, D. (1994). WISC-III and the SB:FE performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 10,167-171.
28.
Sattler, J.M. (1992). Assessment of children: Revised and updated third edition. San Diego, CA: Author.
29.
Small, M.A., Raney, J.F., & Knapp, T.J. (1987). Comparison of two reaction-time tasks and their relation to intelligence. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 65,867. 870.
30.
Vernon, P.A. (1983). Speed of information-processing and general intelligence . Intelligence, 7, 53-70.
31.
Vemon, P.A. (1985). Individual differences in general cognitive ability . In L.C. Hartlage & C.F. Telzrow (Eds.), The neuropsychology of individual differences: A developmental perspective (pp.125-150). New York: Plenum.
32.
Vernon, P.A. (1987). New developments in reaction time research. In P.A. Vernon (Ed.), Speed of information-processing and intelligence (pp.1-20). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
33.
Vernon, P.A. (1988). Intelligence and information-processing. Human Intelligence Newsletter, 9, 8-9.
34.
Vernon, P.A., & Kantor, L. (1986). Reaction time correlations with intelligence test scores obtained under either timed or untimed conditions. Intelligence, 10, 315-330.
35.
Vemon, P.A., Nador, S., & Kantor, L. (1985). Reaction times and speed-of- processing: Their relationship to timed and untimed measures of intelligence. Intelligence, 9, 357-374.
36.
Vernon, P.A., & Weese, S.E. (1993). Predicting intelligence with multiple speed of information-processing tests. Personality and Individual Differences , 14, 413-419.
37.
Vickers, D., & Smith, P.L. (1986). The rationale for the inspection time index. Personality and Individual Differences, 7, 609-623.
38.
Wechsler, D. (1991). Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scalefor Children - Third edition. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
39.
Wielkiecvicz, R.M. (1990). Interpreting low scores on the WISC-III third factor: It's more than distractibility. Psychological Assessment , 2, 91-97.
