This investigation concerned the problems of confounding style and ability and generalizability in the case of indicators of cognitive reflection-impulsivity. On the basis of an interactional perspective, a number of simple assumptions about response latency and accuracy in cognitive tasks of reflection and impulsivity are developed and tasted in a sample of 46 male adolescents, aged 14 to 17 yr. The results show that the tempo variable and reasoning ability can account for a considerable portion of the inter-individual differences in accuracy. From the viewpoint of general psychology the response latency proves to be partially task-dependent, from the viewpoint of differential psychology it is a partial characteristic of persons and, probably, the real style indicator. The view that cognitive reflection represents a task-specific, problem-oriented adaptation of the conceptual tempo or intensity of alternatives-scanning is supported.
BlockJ.BlockJ. H.HarringtonD. M.Some misgivings about the Matching Familiar Figures Test as a measure of reflection-impulsivity. Developmental Psychology, 1974, 10, 611–632.
4.
BushE. S.DweckC. S.Reflections on conceptual tempo: Relationship between cognitive style and performance as a function of task characteristics. Developmental Psychology, 1975, 11, 567–574.
5.
CaseR.GlobersonT.Field independence and central computing space. Child Development, 1974, 45, 772–778.
6.
ChapuisF.Der Labyrinth-Test. Bern: Huber, 1959.
7.
CooleyW. W.LohnesP. R.Multivariate data analysis. New York: Wiley, 1971.
8.
CronbachL. J.Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika. 1951, 16, 297–334.
9.
DrakeD. M.Perceptual correlates of impulsive and reflective behavior. Developmental Psychology, 1970, 5, 202–214.
10.
EysenckH. J.Intelligence assessment: A theoretical and experimental approach. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 1967, 37, 81–98.
11.
EysenckH. J.WhiteP. O.Personality and the measurement of intelligence. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 1964, 34, 197–202.
FurneauxW. D.Intellectual abilities and problem-solving behavior. In EysenckH. J. (Ed.), Handbook of abnormal psychology. New York: Basic Books, 1960. Pp. 167–192.
14.
GenserB.HafeleA.HäfeleM.Reflexivität-Impulsivität: Fähigkeit oder kognitiver Stil?Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 1978, 10, 114–123.
15.
GrimmK.-H.MeyerW.-U.Impulsivität-Reflexivität: Ein korrekturbedürftiges Konzept. Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 1976, 8, 235–244.
HymanR.Stimulus information as a determinant of reaction time. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1953, 45, 188–196.
18.
IselerA.Leistungsgeschwindigkeit und Leistungsgüte. Weinheim: Beltz, 1970.
19.
KaganJ.Developmental studies in reflection and analysis. In KiddA. H.RivoireJ. L. (Eds.), Perceptual development in children. New York: International Universities Press, 1966. Pp. 487–522.
20.
KaganJ.MesserS. B.A reply to “Some misgivings about the Matching Familiar Figures Test as a measure of reflection-impulsivity”. Developmental Psychology, 1975, 11, 244–248.
21.
KaganJ.RosmanB. L.DayD.AlbertI.PhillipsW.Information processing in the child: Significances of analytic and reflective attitudes. Psychological Monographs, 1964, 78, No. 1 (Whole No. 578).
22.
Köstlin-GlogerG.Kognitive Stile im Entwicklungsverlauf. Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 1978, 10, 52–74.
23.
LewisM.RauschM.GoldbergS.DoddC.Error, response time and IQ: Sex differences in cognitive style of preschool children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1968, 26, 563–568.
24.
LöselF.Handlungskontrolle und Jugenddelinquenz. Stuttgart: Enke, 1975.
25.
MagnussonD.EndlerN. S.Personality at the crossroads: Current issues in interactional psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1977.
26.
MassariD. J.The relation of reflection-impulsivity to field dependence-independence and internal-external control in children. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1975, 126, 61–67.
27.
McFarlandR. A.An experimental study of the relationship between speed and mental ability. Journal of General Psychology, 1930, 3, 67–97.
28.
MesserS.The effect of anxiety over intellectual performance on reflection impulsivity in children. Child Development, 1970, 41, 723–735.
29.
MesserS. B.Reflection-impulsivity: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 1976, 83, 1026–1052.
30.
MumbauerC.MillerJ. O.Socioeconomic background and cognitive functioning in preschool children. Child Development, 1970, 41, 471–479.
31.
SiegelmanE.Reflective and impulsive observing behavior. Child Development, 1969, 40, 1213–1222.
32.
ThurstoneL. L.A factorial study of perception. Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1944.
33.
WagnerI.CimiottiE.Impulsive und reflexive Kinder prüfen Hypothesen: Strategien beim Problemlösen, aufgezeigt an Blickbewegungen. Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 1975, 7, 1–15.
34.
WallachM. A.LeggettM. T.Testing the hypothesis that a person will be consistent: Stylistic consistency versus situational specificity in size of children's drawings. Journal of Personality, 1972, 40, 309–330.
35.
WardW. C.Reflection-impulsivity in kindergarten children. Child Development, 1968, 39, 867–874.
WoodwardJ. A.BentlerP. M.A statistical lower bound to population reliability. Psychological Bulletin, 1978, 85, 1323–1326.
38.
WrightJ. C.Commentary. In ZelnikerT.JeffreyW. E. (Eds.), Reflective and impulsive children: Strategies of information processing underlying differences in problem solving. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1976, 41 (No. 5), 53–59 (Serial No. 168).
39.
YandoR. M.KaganJ.The effects of task complexity on reflection-impulsivity. Cognitive Psychology, 1970, 1, 192–200.
40.
ZelnikerT.BentlerP. M.RenanA.Speed versus accuracy as a measure of cognitive style: Internal consistency and factor-analysis. Child Development, 1977, 48, 301–309.
41.
ZelnikerT.JeffreyW. E.Reflective and impulsive children: Strategies of information processing underlying differences in problem solving. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1976, 41, No. 5 (Serial No. 168).
42.
ZelnikerT.JeffreyW. E.AultR.ParsonsJ.Analysis and modification of search strategies of impulsive and reflective children on the Marching Familiar Figures Test. Child Development, 1972, 43, 321–335.
