A consistent correlation between reaction time (RT) and psychometric intelligence (IQ) has resulted in an information processing theory of intelligence; however the weak magnitude of these correlations is problematic. A possible reason for why 'faster is not always smarter' could lie in inhibitory processes of cognitive functioning. This thesis reviews the literature on inhibitory control along with the complex and contentious conceptual issues surrounding it. Furthermore, the weakness of the RT/IQ correlation could be due to the method of analysis and choice of performance variable(s) in chronometric tasks. Historically, reliance on mean RT and parametric analysis of an inherently skewed variable has been the norm. This thesis considers the disadvantages of relying on such 'traditional' performance parameters whilst contrasting their use with more modern methods - specifically the Exponential-Gaussian distributional analysis in the case of RT data and an 'EZ' Diffusion model of decision making. Focusing on response inhibition, a series of three studies is presented, investigating the relationship between this concept and IQ. Study one investigated ocular response inhibition using pro/anti-saccade eye-tracking. Study two investigated the ubiquitous Stroop Colour Word Task (SCWT) along with a directional version of the task. The final study analysed the SCWT in detail; investigating whether the saliency of the distracter element of stimuli could be resulting in a floor effect in performance measures. Across studies, response inhibition was found to be only weakly related to IQ, regardless of analysis method used. For ocular measures, only performance accuracy was related to IQ, in contrast to the Stroop tasks of studies two and three where RT performance was more related to IQ. No correlations with 10 exceeded the magnitude already established between simple and choice RT and IQ with one exception - a moderate correlation (r=.58) between the 'response caution' parameter of the EZ Diffusion model and visual IQ. Exponential-Gaussian and EZ Diffusion models were found to be informative regarding possible processes underlying the Stroop effect and demonstrated their potential to advance understanding of the effect. The conclusion of this thesis was that measures of response inhibition are only weakly related to IQ, with a magnitude similar to other tasks where RT was the dependent variable.

Existing tests of musical ability or aptitude, with the exception of the Seashore battery, have largely been drawn up from the musician’s standpoint. The use of musical material in the construction of test items has been almost universal; this approach being to a considerable extent the result of the view that only measurements taken 'in situ', that is in a musical context, have any value. This does not accord with the psychometric position which places emphasis on the predictive value of test items, but makes no statement about what the nature of items must be. The present study is an attempt to construct a battery of tests of musical aptitude from the point of view of the psychologist. The approach is simply psychometric, and involves the use of elementary signal detection, and information, theory. The result is a battery of tests for use with schoolchildren between the ages of seven and eleven years. The data for reliability and validity, though by no means conclusive, suggests that such an approach is viable. In addition, there are reasons for supposing that the types of material selected have less experiential and cultural bias than other testing systems. The work described falls into two main categories. Firstly there is an examination of existing test batteries, and of certain factorial studies of these batteries. In this section an attempt is made to define such terms as 'musical ability', 'aptitude', and 'ability'. Secondly, the construction of a test battery is described, together with certain experiments performed. This leads on to the discussion of the results obtained as a result of administering the tests to some 2,000 schoolchildren. In terms of reliability the results are comparable with existing batteries. The indications from the validity data are also on the whole favourable, but further studies are desirable.

No description available.

Becoming skilled is often portrayed through linear trajectories and stepwise models that reduce the complexity of lived experience. In turn, these models restrict the possibilities for going on by suggesting that what we do, and how we know, unfolds in a unidirectional and predetermined manner. This thesis addresses this problem by exploring the process of becoming skilled over time. It traces the author's own becoming a potter through apprenticeship in the practice of craft. Based on this rich empirical data three contributions are made to process studies in management and organisation. Firstly, this thesis illuminates a multi-directional, two-phased ‘pattern of enskilment' through which practitioners develop the necessary foundational skills to grasp the underlying logic of practice and reveal new ways of going on. Secondly, patterns of enskilment are shown to unfold in the forces and flows of the wider institutional arrangements as practitioners both follow and orchestrate the rhythms of practice. In turn, the emergent and potent forces that shape the course of ongoing becoming are revealed. In so doing, form-imposing structures, such as rules, judgments and intentions are shown to be ongoing and emergent forces that are generated in and through process, as it unfolds against a background of practice. Finally, apprenticeship is presented as means of understanding becoming through the process of becoming itself. Herein researcher and researched are reunited in the synchronous weaving together of simultaneous lines of becoming as they traverse overlapping practice(s). To this end, what we know and what we do are inherently entangled in who we are.

Multitasking situations (e.g. cooking a meal, office work) occur frequently in everyday life.  Previous research has concentrated on the deficits of neurological patients, however it is also important to understand how the healthy brain deals with these complex situations.  Therefore the aim was to develop a methodology for studying multitasking in healthy adults, and to apply that methodology to investigate the cognitive processes involved in multitasking.  The first 4 experiments used a test of multitasking which involved swapping repeatedly between simple perceptual and manual sub-tasks.  It was found that the opportunity for pre-planning did not facilitate performance (Experiment 1), and that interruptions did not disrupt multitasking efficiency (Experiment 2 & 3).  experiment 4 validated the test by showing that a sample of 7 dysexecutive patients (for whom poor performance would be expected) were impaired relative to matched controls. Experiments 5-9 used another test of multitasking (the Virtual Errands Test of McGeorge et al., 2001) that involved navigating in a virtual environment to complete errands within a time limit.  Experiment 5 found that the opportunity for pre-planning was beneficial in terms of route efficiency.  Experiments 6-9 (using a more challenging version of the test) found some evidence that interruptions had a disruptive effect on performance, but overall participants coped well with being interrupted.  Therefore, experiment 9 tried a different type of distraction; namely a secondary task that had to be undertaken throughout the Virtual Errands Test.  When the secondary task loaded the executive resources of working memory, there was greater interference than when the secondary task was designed to load only the Phonological Loop.  The involvement of working memory is discussed, as is the involvement of the tree cognitive components of multitasking according to the model of Burgess et al. (2000); retrospective memory, prospective memory and planning.

No description available.

This thesis examined issues pertaining to the conceptualisation of mental toughness in sport and its measurement through four central studies. Study 1 systematically identified and examined the mental toughness literature and revealed knowledge appeared limited in that popular definitions were predominantly outcome focused, characteristics were largely descriptive, and currently no psychometrically sound objective measure of mental toughness was available. Given the lack of published evidence supporting the psychometric properties of the most widely used, yet unsubstantiated measure of mental toughness, an examination of the factorial validity of the MTQ48 was advocated. As a result, Study 2 evaluated the psychometric properties of the MTQ48 using a construct validity approach. Overall results could not provide support for the hypothesised factor structures of the MTQ48, supporting concerns over the psychometric reliability and validity of the measure. In pursuit of a new definition and conceptualisation of mental toughness, a metainterpretation approach was adopted in Study 3 designed to systematically analyse and synthesize the current mental toughness literature. A new definition of mental toughness was presented alongside eight conceptually distinct components of mental toughness. In an attempt to move beyond description towards a more theoretical conceptualisation, a multidimensional model of mental toughness was also proposed that reflected the complexity of the concept. In order to operationalise the new conceptualisation, Study 4 developed a new measure of mental toughness – the Sport Mental Toughness Profiler (SMTP). Specifically, two qualitative approaches and two quantitative approaches involving within-network and between-network examinations were conducted. Separate sample CFA’s confirmed the factor structure with further support provided by convergent and divergent examinations alongside follow-up internal-reliability analysis, test-retest and multisource ratings. The influence of age, gender, sport-type (individual vs team) and playing level (elite vs sub-elite) on mental toughness was also examined. Whilst replication and extension was advocated, the results of this study served to provide preliminary support for the SMTP as a valid measure of mental toughness for use within a sport context across levels of competition. The thesis concludes with a summary of key findings, an overview of current findings to align the thesis with contemporary research, an overview of the strengths and limitations of the thesis, and a discussion of the implications for theory, practice and future research.

Cognitive ability, personality and interests are three distinct topics of investigation for psychology. In the past two decades, however, there have been growing appeals for research and theories that address the overlap among these domains (Ackerman & Heggestad, 1997; Armstrong, Day, McVay, & Rounds, 2008). One example of such a theory is PPIK theory (intelligence-as-process, personality, interests, and intelligence-as-knowledge) by Ackerman (1996). Integrative theories have the potential of not only increasing our theoretical understanding of the development of these individual differences, but of and improving vocational guidance through better prediction of future occupation (Armstrong, Su, & Rounds, 2011; Johnson & Bouchard, 2009). The research of this thesis was centered on examining the links among cognitive ability, personality and interests. The data came from Project TALENT (PT), a nationally-representative sample of approximately 400,000 American high school students from 1960 (Flanagan et al., 1962). A secondary topic was whether an integrated view could improve the prediction of attained occupation. This was tested with occupational data from follow-up PT surveys, conducted 11 years after high school. The first study addressed the structure of the PT intelligence tests. Three popular models of intelligence were compared through factor analysis: the Extended Fluid-Crystallized (Gf-Gc), Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) and Verbal- Perceptual-Image Rotation (VPR) models. The VPR model provided the best fit to the data. The second study was an investigation of linear and nonlinear intelligence-personality associations in Project TALENT. The ten PT personality scales were related to the Big Five personality factors through content examination, consistent with previous research (Reeve, Meyer, & Bonaccio, 2006). Through literature review of studies on intelligence and the Big Five, 17 hypotheses were made about linear associations and quadratic associations of personality traits with general intelligence (g). The majority of the hypotheses were supported in all four grade samples: 53% in male samples, and 58% in female samples. The most notable finding, contrary to previous research, was that quadratic associations explained substantive variance above and beyond linear effects for Sociability, Maturity, Vigor and Leadership in males, and Sociability, Maturity and Tidiness in females. The third study examined associations between cognitive ability and interests, and their capacity to predict occupational type. Specifically, Ackerman’s PPIK theory suggests that there are two “trait complexes” that are combinations of cognitive abilities and interests (termed science/math and intellectual/cultural). Trait complexes were derived from PT data separately by latent class analysis and factor analysis. It was hypothesized that they should have validity equal to or greater than individual intelligence and interests scores in predicting attained occupation. Instead, trait complexes derived through latent class analysis predicted substantially less variance in occupation than individual scales. The factor-analytic trait complexes performed more like the scales, but one trait complex (which involved g centrally) was inconsistent with PPIK theory. Overall, the trait complexes of PPIK theory were not supported. The results of the three studies are discussed in the context of existing integrative theories, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Includes bibliography / x, 351, [ca. 80] p. [i.e. leaves] : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1986

Copy of author's previously published article inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 246-265. / xvi, 265 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1996