title: Individual differences in working memory within a nomological network of cognitive and perceptual speed abilities.
abstract: It has become fashionable to equate constructs of working memory (WM) and general intelligence (g). Few investigations have provided direct evidence that WM and g measures yield similar ordering of individuals. Correlational investigations have yielded mixed results. The authors assess the construct space for WM and g and demonstrate that WM shares substantial variance with perceptual speed (PS) constructs. Thirty-six ability tests representing verbal, numerical, spatial, and PS abilities; the Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices; and 7 WM tests were administered to 135 adults. A nomological representation for WM is provided through a series of cognitive and PS ability models. Construct overlap between PS and WM is further investigated with attention to complexity, processing differences, and practice effects.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Psychology Building, 274 5th Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0170, USA. phillip.ackerman@psych.gatech.edu
authors.forename: Phillip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.forename: Mary O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013067:Speech Perception; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014825:Vocabulary