The International Cognitive Ability Resource: A Free Cognitive Measure With Utility for Postsecondary Giftedness Research

Abstract

Research on high-ability postsecondary students has increased in recent years; yet identifying such students can be challenging. The International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR) is an online, open-access tool designed to facilitate measurement of cognitive abilities in research. We evaluated whether the ICAR is appropriate to identify high-ability postsecondary students for research; high ability was classified by a General Ability Index score of 120 or higher on the WAIS-IV. In a sample of 97 students from a U.S. university (Mean age 22.47 years, Mean General Ability Index score 115.13) the 60-item ICAR demonstrated adequate diagnostic accuracy to identify high ability with three appropriate cut scores (33, 34, or 35 items correct out of 60). The 16-item ICAR had no appropriate cut scores but demonstrated validity as a brief cognitive ability measure that could be used to examine relations between intelligence and other variables. Findings suggest that the ICAR could be a useful open-source tool for research with high-ability college students