Cognitive Test Scores (cognitive + test_score)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


THE ROLE OF NONCOGNITIVE SKILLS IN EXPLAINING COGNITIVE TEST SCORES

ECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 1 2008
LEX BORGHANS
This article examines whether noncognitive skills,measured both by personality traits and by economic preference parameters,influence cognitive tests' performance. The basic idea is that noncognitive skills might affect the effort people put into a test to obtain good results. We experimentally varied the rewards for questions in a cognitive test to measure to what extent people are sensitive to financial incentives. To distinguish increased mental effort from extra time investments, we also varied the questions' time constraints. Subjects with favorable personality traits such as high performance motivation and an internal locus of control perform relatively well in the absence of rewards, consistent with a model in which trying as hard as you can is the best strategy. In contrast, favorable economic preference parameters (low discount rate, low risk aversion) are associated with increases in time investments when incentives are introduced, consistent with a rational economic model in which people only invest when there are monetary returns. The main conclusion is that individual behavior at cognitive tests depends on noncognitive skills. (JEL J20, J24) [source]


Cognitive test scores in male adolescent cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers: a population-based study

ADDICTION, Issue 2 2010
Mark Weiser
ABSTRACT Background Although previous studies indicate that people with lower intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are more likely to become cigarette smokers, IQ scores of siblings discordant for smoking and of adolescents who began smoking between ages 18,21 years have not been studied systematically. Methods Each year a random sample of Israeli military recruits complete a smoking questionnaire. Cognitive functioning is assessed by the military using standardized tests equivalent to IQ. Results Of 20 221 18-year-old males, 28.5% reported smoking at least one cigarette a day (smokers). An unadjusted comparison found that smokers scored 0.41 effect sizes (ES, P < 0.001) lower than non-smokers; adjusted analyses remained significant (adjusted ES = 0.27, P < 0.001). Adolescents smoking one to five, six to 10, 11,20 and 21+ cigarettes/day had cognitive test scores 0.14, 0.22, 0.33 and 0.5 adjusted ES poorer than those of non-smokers (P < 0.001). Adolescents who did not smoke by age 18, and then began to smoke between ages 18,21 had lower cognitive test scores compared to never-smokers (adjusted ES = 0.14, P < 0.001). An analysis of brothers discordant for smoking found that smoking brothers had lower cognitive scores than non-smoking brothers (adjusted ES = 0.27; P = 0.014). Conclusion Controlled analyses from this large population-based cohort of male adolescents indicate that IQ scores are lower in male adolescents who smoke compared to non-smokers and in brothers who smoke compared to their non-smoking brothers. The IQs of adolescents who began smoking between ages 18,21 are lower than those of non-smokers. Adolescents with poorer IQ scores might be targeted for programmes designed to prevent smoking. [source]


Cognitive performance of male adolescents is lower than controls across psychiatric disorders: a population-based study

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2004
M. Weiser
Objective:, Psychiatric patients, as well as humans or experimental animals with brain lesions, often concurrently manifest behavioral deviations and subtle cognitive impairments. This study tested the hypothesis that as a group, adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders score worse on cognitive tests compared with controls. Method:, As part of the assessment for eligibility to serve in the military, the entire, unselected population of 16,17-year old male Israelis undergo cognitive testing and screening for psychopathology by the Draft Board. We retrieved the cognitive test scores of 19 075 adolescents who were assigned any psychiatric diagnosis, and compared them with the scores of 243 507 adolescents without psychiatric diagnoses. Results:, Mean test scores of cases were significantly poorer then controls for all diagnostic groups, except for eating disorders. Effect sizes ranged from 0.3 to 1.6. Conclusion:, As group, adolescent males with psychiatric disorders manifest at least subtle impairments in cognitive functioning. [source]


Cognitive test scores in male adolescent cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers: a population-based study

ADDICTION, Issue 2 2010
Mark Weiser
ABSTRACT Background Although previous studies indicate that people with lower intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are more likely to become cigarette smokers, IQ scores of siblings discordant for smoking and of adolescents who began smoking between ages 18,21 years have not been studied systematically. Methods Each year a random sample of Israeli military recruits complete a smoking questionnaire. Cognitive functioning is assessed by the military using standardized tests equivalent to IQ. Results Of 20 221 18-year-old males, 28.5% reported smoking at least one cigarette a day (smokers). An unadjusted comparison found that smokers scored 0.41 effect sizes (ES, P < 0.001) lower than non-smokers; adjusted analyses remained significant (adjusted ES = 0.27, P < 0.001). Adolescents smoking one to five, six to 10, 11,20 and 21+ cigarettes/day had cognitive test scores 0.14, 0.22, 0.33 and 0.5 adjusted ES poorer than those of non-smokers (P < 0.001). Adolescents who did not smoke by age 18, and then began to smoke between ages 18,21 had lower cognitive test scores compared to never-smokers (adjusted ES = 0.14, P < 0.001). An analysis of brothers discordant for smoking found that smoking brothers had lower cognitive scores than non-smoking brothers (adjusted ES = 0.27; P = 0.014). Conclusion Controlled analyses from this large population-based cohort of male adolescents indicate that IQ scores are lower in male adolescents who smoke compared to non-smokers and in brothers who smoke compared to their non-smoking brothers. The IQs of adolescents who began smoking between ages 18,21 are lower than those of non-smokers. Adolescents with poorer IQ scores might be targeted for programmes designed to prevent smoking. [source]


Functional correlates of lower cognitive test scores in essential tremor,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 4 2010
Elan D. Louis MD
Abstract Although motor features have been the defining element of essential tremor (ET), lower neurocognitive test scores are increasingly being recognized. However, the clinical correlates, if any, of these lower test scores remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to determine whether cognitive test scores in ET have any functional correlates. The Modified Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and Lawton Instrumental (I) ADL scale were administered to 95 cases. The Katz ADL score (rho = 0.26, P = 0.01) and Lawton IADL score (rho = 0.32, P = 0.001) were correlated with MMSE scores, such that poorer cognitive performance indicated greater dysfunction. Furthermore, cognitive test scores were a better predictor of functional disability than was tremor severity. Poorer cognitive performance in ET was associated with greater functional deficit. Cognition should enter the clinical dialog with ET patients as an issue of clinical significance. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society [source]


REVISITING INTERVIEW,COGNITIVE ABILITY RELATIONSHIPS: ATTENDING TO SPECIFIC RANGE RESTRICTION MECHANISMS IN META-ANALYSIS

PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
CHRISTOPHER M. BERRY
This study revisits the relationship between interviews and cognitive ability tests, finding lower magnitudes of correlation than have previous meta-analyses; a finding that has implications for both the construct and incremental validity of the interview. Our lower estimates of this relationship than previous meta-analyses were mainly due to (a) an updated set of studies, (b) exclusion of samples in which interviewers potentially had access to applicants' cognitive test scores, and (c) attention to specific range restriction mechanisms that allowed us to identify a sizable subset of studies for which range restriction could be accurately accounted. Moderator analysis results were similar to previous meta-analyses, but magnitudes of correlation were generally lower than in previous meta-analyses. Findings have implications for the construct and incremental validity of interviews, and meta-analytic methodology in general. [source]