General Ability Research Articles

Prevalence and factors associated with neck pain among research and development department staff in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNeck pain is the most common musculoskeletal complexity with a high prevalence, especially in adults and the elderly.ObjectivesThe objective of our study is to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of neck pain in research and development department staff in Bangladesh.MethodologyData were collected through questionnaire-assisted interviews to investigate the prevalence and related factors of neck pain among 384 R&D employees aged 18–55 years in Bangladesh. We performed regression analysis on neck pain and associated risk factors to uncover its sociodemographic and occupational correlates.ResultsThe neck pain prevalence was high in this investigation, which is 35.7%, and of these, 27.6% affected the general working ability of the employees. The results indicated that people aged 40 to above years were more significantly to have neck pain, with an OR of 6.148 (p = 0.046), and BMI results indicated that those who were underweight were slightly significantly to have pain (p < 0.001). Again, educational qualification especially HSC or diploma OR 15.600 (p = 0.020) and those who often work on the computer were more significantly to have neck pain, with OR 8.801 (p = 0.078).ConclusionsThis study showed that the prevalence of neck pain was high among R&D workers in private industry. In this investigation, several factors associated with neck pain were found through logistic regression evaluation. The results of this study indicated that age, BMI, educational qualification, and those who frequently worked on computers had higher neck pain.

A pilot study of race, ethnic, gender, and parental education level differences on the Naglieri General Ability Tests: Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative

AbstractThis study was conducted to examine the relationships between general intelligence test scores and race, ethnicity, gender, and parental education using the Naglieri General Ability Tests: Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative (Naglieri &amp; Brulles, &amp; Lansdowne, 2021) for three samples that closely match the U.S. population. Few differences were found on the preliminary versions of the Verbal (Naglieri &amp; Brulles, 2021; N = 2482), Quantitative (Naglieri &amp; Lansdowne, 2021; N = 2369), and Nonverbal (Naglieri, 2021; N = 2383) Naglieri General Ability Tests. These initial findings suggest that this approach to measuring general ability may ultimately have utility for equitable identification of students from diverse backgrounds for possible inclusion in gifted educational programs.

Creating a Culture of Leadership in Physical Education: Strategies for Empowering Student Athletes

The objective of this research was to analyze the leadership abilities of student-athletes and determine the efficacy of leadership development programs used by schools in the field of physical education and sports. The study included a cohort of student-athletes from five universities in Hunan Province, classified according to their gender and participating sport. A custom-designed questionnaire, verified for its reliability and clarity, was used to collect data on the perceived leadership abilities in six specific areas: goal setting, communication, motivation, decision-making, adaptability, and conflict resolution. The results indicated that the general leadership abilities of student-athletes were assessed as "less apparent," with notable variations in perception depending on gender and sport. Specifically, male players and those participating in tennis reported having superior leadership capabilities. Furthermore, the research revealed that the efficacy of schools' leadership development initiatives, such as education and training, mentorship programs, team-building activities, leadership opportunities, community involvement, and cultural and diversity awareness, was generally assessed as "not effectively executed." Substantial variations in these evaluations were also seen depending on gender and sport, underscoring possible program structure and availability discrepancies. A robust positive correlation was found between student-athletes' perceived leadership abilities and the efficacy of leadership development initiatives, suggesting that effectively designed programs may significantly augment leadership capabilities.

Predictors of Verbal Fluency Decline in People with Cognitive Dysfunctions

Background: Verbal fluency impairment is a prospective risk for dementia and conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia. In elderly may be related to the deficits in other cognitive domains and also with age and duration of cognitive decline. The AIM: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) in people with cognitive decline in relation to age, duration of the cognitive decline and the level of cognitive dysfunction. Methods: 279 (177 females and 102 males) people with cognitive decline (MCI and dementia), aged 50-91 years were included in the study. For the evaluation of general cognitive abilities Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and for assessment of verbal fluency– Verbal Fluency Test (phonological and categorical) was applied. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric tests. Factor analysis of the main components of Verbal Fluency Test and MMSE were used and one-way ANOVA test in the prediction analysis was applied. Results: All dimensions of verbal fluency subscales and MMSE are explained by one factor, which indicate their similar etiological mechanism. The longer duration of the cognitive impairment the worse results in VFT and MMSE. Worse results of MMSE were associated with worse performance on VFT, the most important critical moment of deterioration was associated with scores in the range of 25-23 and 17-18 MMSE points, however there are some differences between verbal fluency categories. The most significant periods of duration of the disease for VFT performance were months 6 and 9, and for the category of categorical fluency months 6,9, as well as 26, 31-32 and 36. No significant associations between the age and VFT and MMSE results were observed. Conclusions: Verbal fluency decline is related to global cognitive functioning. Longer duration time of the disease was associated with the level of verbal fluency and cognitive decline, while the age of patients is not an important factor. The verbal fluency deterioration occurs in leaps and bounds, the critical moments for verbal fluency decline may be established based on the duration of the illness and global functioning measured by MMSE.

A General Ability for Simple and Complex Ensemble Judgments

A General Ability for Simple and Complex Ensemble Judgments

A - 140 The Association between Executive Functioning and Adaptive Outcomes in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors

Abstract Objective Pediatric brain tumor (PBT) survivors are at high risk for cognitive and adaptive challenges. We aimed to examine the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and adaptive functioning in PBT survivors to identify critical cognitive skills that are associated with functional impact to inform intervention and transition to adulthood. Method Retrospective neuropsychological data was collected for 95 clinically referred PBT survivors (8–24 years). A composite EF measure was created based on the average of selected EF subtest scores. The associations between EF skills, parent-report of child adaptive functioning, and full-scale IQ were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression. Results Adaptive functioning was significantly related to parent (r = −0.701, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and teacher ratings (r = −0.372, p = 0.004) of EF, the testing composite measure of EF (r = 0.455, p = 0.033), as well as FSIQ (r = 0.386, p &amp;lt; 0.001), general cognitive ability (r = 0.328, p = 0.003), working memory (r = 0.279, p = 0.007), and processing speed (r = 0.425, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Parent reports of EF were not significantly related to the EF testing composite score, but both significantly predicted adaptive functioning (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Of parent-reported domains of EF, self-monitoring was most predictive of overall adaptive functioning (B = −0.415, p = 0.017). FSIQ and age did not impact the relationship between parent reports of EF and adaptive functioning. Conclusions Overall, EF on both parent reports and testing, especially self-monitoring, was predictive of adaptive functioning in PBT survivors, regardless of age and overall intellectual functioning. Future research should further examine the impact of individual and treatment factors.

B - 21 11-Year Longitudinal Study of a Competitive Swimmer Following a Severe TBI

Abstract Objective Symptoms of severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are oftentimes significant, long lasting, and treated by a variety of medications and therapies. Although exercise is known to be beneficial for brain health, the effects of substantial exercise on recovery following severe TBI (sTBI) in female athletes are undiscovered. Method This case study examines a 51-year-old woman who sustained a sTBI, involving multiple hemorrhagic contusions to the right cerebellum, inferior bilateral frontal lobes, anterior left temporal lobe, and diffuse axonal injury on 8/5/13 from a bicycle accident, resulting in a 13-day coma and cognitive impairment. She underwent 6 brain surgeries, an artificial skull implant and intensive therapies. Before the accident, she was a competitive swimmer and triathlon racer. Despite being told that she would never swim again, she resumed swimming on 09/1/14. She swims 6 days a week for 90-minutes a day, winning open water races. Results Examination from four neuropsychological assessments over 11 years provide substantial longitudinal data. Results revealed improvement over the 4 testing periods particularly on processing speed, verbal fluency, and Boston Naming Test with t-score differences ranging between 8 and 24. Additionally, she performed in the average range on General Abilities Index, NAB Mazes, and Trail Making Test across all four assessments. Conclusion This longitudinal case study provides evidence that extensive swimming is associated with cognitive recovery from sTBI in a female athlete and documents her return to high level exercise and competition. Evidence suggests that carefully tailored and monitored exercise programs can benefit long term cognitive following from sTBI.

Evaluation of early treatment with intravenous idursulfase and intrathecal idursulfase-IT on cognitive function in siblings with neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidosis II.

Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome; OMIM 309900) is a rare, X-linked, heterogeneous lysosomal storage disease. Approximately two-thirds of patients develop cognitive impairment, which is difficult to assess in clinical trials, partly owing to the variable nature of cognitive impairment. Analyzing data from siblings can help to minimize this heterogeneity. We report analyses of cognitive function from siblings with MPS II enrolled in clinical trials: a natural history study (NCT01822184), a randomized, open-label, phase 2/3 study of intravenous (IV) idursulfase with or without intrathecal idursulfase (idursulfase-IT; NCT02055118), and its extension (NCT2412787). Cognitive function was assessed using Differential Abilities Scales, Second Edition General Conceptual Ability (DAS-II GCA) scores; Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition; and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition Adaptive Behavior Composite (VABS-II ABC). Seven sets of siblings (six pairs and one set of three) were included. All patients received IV idursulfase and 10 received subsequent idursulfase-IT. Younger siblings initiated IV idursulfase at an earlier age than their older sibling(s) in six of the sets; the younger sibling started treatment before 1 year of age in three sets. Monthly idursulfase-IT was generally associated with a stabilization of cognitive function: DAS-II GCA and VABS-II ABC scores were higher at age-matched assessments in the majority of those who either received idursulfase-IT earlier than their sibling or who received idursulfase-IT versus no idursulfase-IT. These data suggest that early initiation of intrathecal enzyme replacement therapy may stabilize or slow cognitive decline in some patients with neuronopathic MPS II.

Evidence from aphasia suggests a bidirectional relationship between inner speech and executive function

Research over the past several decades has revealed that non-linguistic cognitive impairments can appear alongside language deficits in individuals with aphasia. One vulnerable cognitive domain is executive function, an umbrella term for the higher-level cognitive processes that allow us to direct our behavior towards a goal. Studies in healthy adults reveal that executive function abilities are supported by inner speech, the ability to use language silently in one's head. Therefore, inner speech may mediate the connection between language and executive function deficits in individuals with aphasia. Here, we investigated whether inner speech ability may link language and cognitive impairments in 59 adults with chronic, post-stroke aphasia. We used two approaches to measure inner speech: one based on internal retrieval of words and one based on internal retrieval plus silent manipulation of the retrieved phonological forms. Then, we examined relationships between these two approaches to measuring inner speech and five aspects of executive function ability: response inhibition, conflict monitoring/resolution, general task-switching ability, phonological control, and semantic control. We also looked for dissociations between inner speech ability and executive function ability. Our results show tentative relationships between inner speech (across multiple measurement approaches) and all aspects of executive function except for response inhibition. We also found evidence for a double dissociation: many participants show intact executive function despite poor inner speech, and vice versa, so neither process is strictly reliant on the other. We suggest that this work provides preliminary evidence of a bidirectional relationship between inner speech and executive function: inner speech supports some aspects of executive function via internal self-cueing and certain aspects of executive function support performance on complex inner speech tasks.

Knowledge and Awareness of the First Aid Management of Foreign Body Aspiration in Children Among the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

This study aims to assess the level of awareness and knowledge regarding the first aid management of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children among various demographic groups. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 500 participants. The survey included questions about demographic information and knowledge of FBA management. The data were analyzed to identify significant differences in awareness levels based on gender, age, nationality, educational background, occupational status, and marital status. The study found significant differences in awareness levels across various demographic groups. Females (80.2%) demonstrated higher awareness compared to males (71.5%), with a significant p-value of 0.035. Participants aged 30-39 years had the highest awareness (83.6%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.057). Nationality did not significantly affect awareness levels. However, educational background showed variations, with postgraduate degree holders having somewhat lower awareness (65.9%) compared to bachelor's degree holders (78.1%), though this difference was not significant (p=0.271). Occupational status had a significant impact, with military personnel displaying the highest awareness (100%) and business professionals the lowest (67.7%), with a significant p-value of 0.009. Marital status also influenced awareness, with married individuals showing higher awareness (82.8%) compared to single (74.4%) and divorced (65.5%) individuals, with a significant p-value of 0.040. The study highlights the need for targeted educational programs to enhance first aid knowledge across different demographic groups. By addressing gaps in awareness through comprehensive training, especially among groups with lower awareness levels, we can improve the general population's ability to manage FBA incidents effectively, thereby reducing associated morbidity and mortality in children.

Enhanced motor noise in an autism subtype with poor motor skills

BackgroundMotor difficulties are common in many, but not all, autistic individuals. These difficulties can co-occur with other problems, such as delays in language, intellectual, and adaptive functioning. Biological mechanisms underpinning such difficulties are less well understood. Poor motor skills tend to be more common in individuals carrying highly penetrant rare genetic mutations. Such mechanisms may have downstream consequences of altering neurophysiological excitation-inhibition balance and lead to enhanced behavioral motor noise.MethodsThis study combined publicly available and in-house datasets of autistic (n = 156), typically-developing (TD, n = 149), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD, n = 23) children (age 3–16 years). Autism motor subtypes were identified based on patterns of motor abilities measured from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd edition. Stability-based relative clustering validation was used to identify autism motor subtypes and evaluate generalization accuracy in held-out data. Autism motor subtypes were tested for differences in motor noise, operationalized as the degree of dissimilarity between repeated motor kinematic trajectories recorded during a simple reach-to-drop task.ResultsRelatively ‘high’ (n = 87) versus ‘low’ (n = 69) autism motor subtypes could be detected and which generalize with 89% accuracy in held-out data. The relatively ‘low’ subtype was lower in general intellectual ability and older at age of independent walking, but did not differ in age at first words or autistic traits or symptomatology. Motor noise was considerably higher in the ‘low’ subtype compared to ‘high’ (Cohen’s d = 0.77) or TD children (Cohen’s d = 0.85), but similar between autism ‘high’ and TD children (Cohen’s d = 0.08). Enhanced motor noise in the ‘low’ subtype was also most pronounced during the feedforward phase of reaching actions.LimitationsThe sample size of this work is limited. Future work in larger samples along with independent replication is important. Motor noise was measured only on one specific motor task. Thus, a more comprehensive assessment of motor noise on many other motor tasks is needed.ConclusionsAutism can be split into at least two discrete motor subtypes that are characterized by differing levels of motor noise. This suggests that autism motor subtypes may be underpinned by different biological mechanisms.

Q-learning based hyper-heuristic with clustering strategy for combinatorial optimization: A case study on permutation flow-shop scheduling problem

In this paper, a Q-learning based hyper-heuristic with clustering strategy (QHH/CS) is proposed for combinatorial optimization problems (COPs). In QHH/CS, a clustering strategy based on low-dimensional mapping method is devised to map initial population to a low-dimensional space, thus obtaining multiple subpopulations accounting for different search directions. To discover more promising search regions around each subpopulation, we propose a parallel Q-learning search mechanism composed of multiple search components, including multi-subpopulation Q-table, state extraction method, contribution-driven reward function, and deep mining local search actions. Relying on these search components, QHH/CS identifies the variations of the objective values of subpopulations to evaluate the solution features of COPs, whereby valuable information can be learned during the search process of the algorithm. To illustrate the effectiveness of QHH/CS, it is applied to solve the permutation flow-shop scheduling problem. We additionally assess QHH/CS through the well-known vehicle routing problem, which confirms the general search ability of the algorithm for COPs. Moreover, the convergence analysis of the QHH/CS algorithm is performed, providing theoretical guidance for the optimization process of the proposed algorithm. Results of experiments demonstrate that QHH/CS can find high-quality solutions to the solved problems.

Effects of Altitude Training and Sea-Level Training Programs on the Physiological and Performance of Elite Chinese Male Marathon Runners

Background and Aims: Examining the differences between sea-level training programs and altitude offers important new perspectives on how environmental influences affect physiological adaptations and athletic performance. By being aware of these variations, coaches and athletes can tailor training plans to the unique conditions of altitude, which may improve performance in terms of endurance, oxygen use, and general athletic ability. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of altitude training on physiological adaptation and performance in Chinese elite male marathon runners compared to plains training. By comparing the results of altitude training with those of sea-level training, this study sought to determine whether altitude training has a significant advantage in terms of physiological adaptation and performance enhancement for the Chinese elite male marathoner. In addition, exploring the variability of altitude training responses will help to inform an in-depth understanding of training strategies affecting elite marathoners and help to optimize performance enhancement methods in endurance sports. Methodology: Thirty-two Chinese elite male marathon runners will be recruited and subjected to a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which they will be assigned to either a high altitude or plains training group. SPSS was used to perform independent samples t-tests and paired samples t-tests on the data of technical indicators. Both groups will receive structured and standardized training for a predetermined period, with the altitude of the high-altitude training set at 2366 m for 8 weeks. Results: (1) In the experimental group, the differences in red blood cells (RBC), maximal heart rate (HRmax), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and full marathon performance before the altitude experiment compared to after the altitude experiment were significant (P=0.001); the differences in maximal anaerobic power and hemoglobin (HB) before the experiment were substantial (P&lt;0.005); and the differences in maximal heart rate (HRmax) between the 28 days of the experiment and the post-experiment were substantial. (HRmax) difference was substantial (P=0.001). (2) The red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group compared with the control group (P &lt; 0.005) Conclusion: The results of the study showed that eight weeks of altitude training at an altitude of 2,366 meters above sea level could improve the athletes' performance in the marathon and aerobic capacity, and could be used in the training of marathon runners.

Social and general cognition are uniquely associated with social connectedness in later life.

The mechanisms by which older adults maintain large, complex social networks are not well understood. Prior work has primarily focused on general cognitive ability (e.g., executive function, episodic memory), largely overlooking social cognition-the ability to process, store, and remember social information. Because social cognition plays a key role in navigating social interactions and is distinct from general cognition, we examined whether general and social cognition uniquely predicted the nature of older adults' personal social networks. Our study leveraged comprehensive measures of general cognition (executive function, episodic memory), social cognition (face memory and dynamic measures of cognitive and affective theory of mind), and a rigorous measure of personal social networks from 143 community-dwelling older adults. We found that, when modeled together and controlling for sociodemographic variables, only executive function and dynamic cognitive theory of mind positively predicted having social networks with relatively unfamiliar, loosely connected others, accounting for 17% of the unique variance in older adults' social connectedness. Interestingly, having a social network comprised primarily of close, tightly knit relationships was negatively associated with affective theory of mind performance. Findings are discussed in the context of the social-cognitive resource framework-which suggests that social cognition may be more engaged in relatively unfamiliar, versus close, interactions. Specifically, our results show that social-cognitive processes may be relatively automatic for individuals whose primary social relationships are very close but may be more strongly engaged for individuals whose interactions include at least some relatively less close relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Collective response capacity: Developing crisis leadership in organisations

AbstractHow can crisis leadership be developed before an organisational crisis occurs? This article addresses this important question by reviewing three individual‐level leadership perspectives (leader personality traits, leadership styles, and functional leadership) and three organisational level perspectives (leadership as contextual, leadership as collective, and leadership as dynamic), on how to develop crisis leadership with regard to recruitment, selection, and training. While crisis leadership is often perceived as something individual “leaders are born with” or as a variant of general leadership abilities, such an understanding leaves much to chance in terms of who will be effective leaders in a crisis, as well as the development of leadership capacity in organisations before a crisis actually occurs. This passive approach not only contradicts research on what constitutes effective crisis leadership but also is perceived to be unethical in terms of the potential consequences ineffective leadership can have in a crisis. This article provides an integrative overview of current and hitherto dispersed crisis leadership development research, showing how recruitment, selection and training to achieve collective crisis leadership capacity encompasses switching between organisational and individual level perspectives. We suggest implications for theory and future research as well as for practitioners responsible for developing crisis leadership in organisations.

Altered structural node of default mode network mediated general cognitive ability in young adults with obesity

BackgroundObesity, characterized by excessive adiposity, is associated with brain structural abnormalities. Nevertheless, the relationships between altered structural nodes of default mode network (DMN), body mass index (BMI), general cognitive ability remained unclear in young adults. MethodsIn this study, we divided a large sample of young adults into three BMI-based groups. We then conducted one-way analyses of variance and post-hoc tests with Bonferroni corrections to investigate abnormal structural brain regions associated with obesity. Furthermore, mediation effects models were built to explore whether the structural alterations influenced the relationship between BMI and general cognitive ability. ResultsCompared to their lean and overweight counterparts, young adults with obesity exhibited significantly lower general cognitive ability, higher impulsivity traits, and worse sleep quality. Furthermore, compared with lean group, young adults with obesity exhibited altered cortical thickness of both the left temporal pole and right superior parietal lobule, and abnormal cortical surface area (CSA) of the left entorhinal cortex (EC), a hub within DMN. Moreover, CSA of the left EC mediated the relationship between BMI and general cognitive ability. ConclusionObesity was linked to altered structural node of DMN, which mediated general cognitive ability in young adults. These findings indicated the negative effect of obesity on DMN and general cognitive ability in young adults.

Adaptability of winter rye cultivars by yield in the conditions of the Kirov region

The breeding of winter rye for adaptability is an important factor in increasing yield and stabilizing gross grain yields. The research was conducted in 2018–2023 in the central agroclimatic zone of the Kirov region. Thirteen cultivars of winter rye (Secale cereale L. var. vulgare Koern.) of the mid-late maturity group of different breeding periods (‘Falenskaya 4’ as standard) were studied in the nursery of competitive variety testing. Based on the “yield” trait, the parameters of the general adaptive ability of the cultivar (GAAi), stability (σ2SAAi), breeding value of the genotype, and responsiveness of the genotype to changes in environmental conditions (bi) were determined using the method of A. V. Kilchevsky and L. V. Khotyleva. The "year" factor had the greatest influence on the “yield” trait (the influence of factor hx2 = 60 %). With high winter hardiness (4.7 points) and plant regeneration (89 %), the yield of winter rye is associated with the amount of precipitation during the resumption of vegetation in April (r = -0.92), as well as during the period “seedlings-autumn tillering” and the “earing” phase (r = 0.55). According to the yield, the ‘Grafinya’ (5.09 t/ha) and ‘Lika’ (5.07 t/ha) cultivars were distinguished with a significant increase to the standard of 0.40 t/ha and 0.38 t/ha, respectively (LSD05 = 0.24 t/ha). The ‘Grafinya’, ‘Lika’, ‘Batist’, and ‘Perepel’ cultivars had a high general adaptive ability (GAAi = 0.23–0.51). Cultivars of late breeding periods were characterized by a higher general adaptive ability (GAAi = 0.09–0.51) compared to previously created cultivars (GAAi = -0.61…0.01). The cultivars ‘Vyatka 2’,’Kiprez’, ‘Kirovskaya 89’, ‘Sadko’, ‘Grafinya’, ‘Batist’, ‘Rushnik’, ‘Perepel’ were distinguished by high stability of the "yield" trait (σ2SAA = 0.50–0.73). The lowest stability indicators were found in the cultivars ‘Flora’, ‘Lika’, ‘Talitsa’ (σ2SAA = 1.13–1.35). The cultivars ‘Flora’, ‘Lika’, ‘Talitsa’, ‘Falenskaya 4’, ‘Perepel’, ‘Rushnik’ were highly responsive to improving growing conditions (bi = 1.1–1.4). The cultivar ‘Grafinya’ combined high yield and stability (selection value of the genotype 2.9).

Evidence of interrelated cognitive-like capabilities in large language models: Indications of artificial general intelligence or achievement?

Large language models (LLMs) are advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can perform a variety of tasks commonly found in human intelligence tests, such as defining words, performing calculations, and engaging in verbal reasoning. There are also substantial individual differences in LLM capacities. Given the consistent observation of a positive manifold and general intelligence factor in human samples, along with group-level factors (e.g., crystallised intelligence), we hypothesized that LLM test scores may also exhibit positive inter-correlations, which could potentially give rise to an artificial general ability (AGA) factor and one or more group-level factors. Based on a sample of 591 LLMs and scores from 12 tests aligned with fluid reasoning (Gf), domain-specific knowledge (Gkn), reading/writing (Grw), and quantitative knowledge (Gq), we found strong empirical evidence for a positive manifold and a general factor of ability. Additionally, we identified a combined Gkn/Grw group-level factor. Finally, the number of LLM parameters correlated positively with both general factor of ability and Gkn/Grw factor scores, although the effects showed diminishing returns. We interpreted our results to suggest that LLMs, like human cognitive abilities, may share a common underlying efficiency in processing information and solving problems, though whether LLMs manifest primarily achievement/expertise rather than intelligence remains to be determined. Finally, while models with greater numbers of parameters exhibit greater general cognitive-like abilities, akin to the connection between greater neuronal density and human general intelligence, other characteristics must also be involved.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: A Meta-Analysis on the Validity of Self-Assessed Intelligence through the Lens of the Multiverse.

Examining the relationship between self-assessed intelligence (SAI) and psychometric intelligence (IQ) is essential for understanding how people's self-evaluations reflect their actual intelligence. Various factors, such as SAI measurement methods, participant characteristics, and testing conditions have been hypothesized to moderate the SAI-IQ link, yet the generality of this association remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence for SAI and IQ associations based on 278 effect sizes from 115 independent samples (N = 36,833) using a multi-level meta-analysis, revealing a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.30; 95% CI [0.27, 0.33]). Multiverse analyses demonstrated remarkable stability of this effect, with most summary effect specifications yielding significant positive correlations (96%), averaging r = 0.32. Notably, ability domain and sample type emerged as significant moderators, with numerical ability showing stronger correlations compared to general cognitive, verbal, and spatial abilities. Importantly, our study found that correlations in student samples were significantly higher than those in general samples. Our findings show a moderate positive association of SAI with IQ, unaffected by participant sex, publication year, administration order, neuroticism, and self-assessment method, yet significantly moderated by ability domain and sample type. Our results illustrate the importance of feedback in educational settings to help students accurately assess their cognitive abilities.

Party Proximities in Voting Advice Applications – Identifying Structural Breaks in Data from the German Wahl-O-Mat

Abstract Voting Advice Applications (VAAs), such as the German Wahl-O-Mat (WOM), have been examined extensively by researchers in various ways. Here, a subset of research uses data from the Wahl-O-Mat to investigate party relations. While these investigations focus on a limited number of WOM editions, I explicitly investigate the persistence of party relations in the WOM in a broad statistical analysis over 63 editions of the WOM in this exploratory research paper. At first glance, I find that intuitive differences in the overall proximities are observable. However, while many arguments exist that corroborate the suitability of the WOM data for the investigation of party relations, I identify statistically significant lower proximities for the six largest German parties in WOM editions from 2009 onward. Based on a review of changes in the design framework of the WOM and comparative data analyses based on the Chapel Hill Expert Survey and the Manifesto data set, these lower proximities are apparently linked to changes in the design of the WOM. As a result, I discuss the general ability of data from the WOM to give reliable insights into party relations. I argue that the WOM might roughly represent overall party relations but, due to a non-proportionality in the shift of the distances, potential design changes have distorting impacts on the relations between parties that make comparisons between different editions of the WOM problematic. This should be a starting point to investigate other VAAs for similar patterns to reevaluate the validity of data from VAAs for the examination of party relations in general.