Cognitive ability is one of the most frequently investigated individual differences in management and psychology. Countless studies have demonstrated that tests measuring cognitive ability or intelligence predict a number of important real-world outcomes such as academic performance, vocational training performance, and job performance. Although the relationship between intelligence and real-world performance is well established, there is a lack of consensus among scholars with regard to how intelligence should be conceptualized and measured. Of the more traditional theories of intelligence, two perspectives are particularly dominant: the Cattell-Horn model of fluid and crystallized intelligence and the theory of General Cognitive Ability (GCA or g). Fluid ability (Gf) represents novel or abstract problem solving capability and is believed to have a physiological basis. In contrast, crystallized ability (Gc) is associated with learned or acculturated knowledge. Drawing on recent research in neuroscience, as well as research on past performance, the nature of work, and expert performance, I argue that compared to measures of fluid ability, crystallized ability measures should more strongly predict real-world criteria in the classroom as well as the workplace. This idea was meta-analytically examined using a large, diverse set of over 400 primary studies spanning the past 100 years. With regard to academic performance, measures of fluid ability were found to positively predict learning (as measured by grades). However, as hypothesized, crystallized ability measures were found to be superior predictors of academic performance compared to their fluid ability counterparts. This finding was true for both high school and college students. Likewise, similar patterns of results were observed with regard to both training performance and job performance. Again, crystallized ability measures were found to be better predictors of performance than fluid measures. This finding was consistent at the overall level of analysis as well as for medium complexity jobs. These findings have important implications for both intelligence theory and selection practice. Contemporary intelligence theory has placed great emphasis on the role of fluid ability, and some researchers have argued that Gf and g are essentially the same construct. However, the results of this study, which are based on criterion-related validities rather than factor-analytic evidence, demonstrate that Gc measures are superior predictors in comparison to Gf measures. This is contrary to what one would expect if Gf and g were indeed the same construct. Rather, the findings of this study are more consistent with General Cognitive Ability theory, which predicts that Gc indicators will be the best predictors of future learning and performance. Given that Gc measures demonstrate higher criterion-related validities than Gf measures, Gc measures are likely to be preferred for selection purposes. Further, Gf scores are known to decline with age while Gc scores remain relatively stable over the lifespan. Thus, when used for selection purposes, Gf tests may underpredict the performance of older workers. In contrast, research has shown that Gc measures are predictively unbiased. Additional implications for theory and practice are discussed, along with study limitations and opportunities for future research.

Previous research examining the impact of training and practice effects on modifying performance of fluid intelligence tasks (Gf) and crystallized intelligence tasks (Gc) were extended to include self-rated performance attributions among non-depressed and depressed older persons. The following general questions were addressed. How does level of depression affect performance on Gf and Gc measures and performance attributions? How does level of depression and degree of benefit from either training or practice relate to changes in attributional styles? The framework used for predicting shifts in attributional styles was the reformulated learned helplessness model. Three hundred twenty-five community-dwelling older persons completed the Gf/Gc Sampler, Beck Depression Inventory, and Attributions for Success/Failure Questionnaire at pretest, posttest (one week), and follow-up (one month). Between the pretest and posttest sessions, subjects participated in one of three experimental conditions; (a) cognitive (induction) training, (b) stress inoculation training, and (c) no-contact control groups. The results from univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance procedures provided partial support for the hypotheses. At pretest, both non-depressed and depressed older persons had internal attributional styles, although based on differential performance outcomes. The depressed persons were found to have more failure experiences as a result of their significantly poorer performance on Gf tasks, versus the non-depressed. Specific Gf training effects were documented regarding attributional shifts for the non-depressed, while there were no changes on their attributional style due to practice on either Gf or Gc tasks. In contrast, only differential practice effects were documented for depressed subjects across Gf and Gc tasks. The importance of assessing personality dimensions in older persons and their xelationship to training and practice effects were discussed, in addition to limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

Introdução: As funções cognitivas sofrem influência da idade, tanto no seu desenvolvimento como no seu declínio. De forma geral, as medidas de inteligência se relacionam com o volume de substância cinzenta (SC) em áreas cerebrais específicas e sofrem influência com o processo de envelhecimento. Em crianças e adolescentes as áreas envolvidas são o córtex pré-frontal, enquanto nos idosos e adultos jovens os córtices frontais e temporais desempenham um papel importante. Objetivo: Identificar quais áreas cerebrais estão implicadas nas variações das medidas de inteligência em uma amostra representativa de adultos jovens e idosos saudáveis. As hipóteses principais são: 1) haverá uma associação indireta entre distribuição de SC e idade envolvendo áreas de córtex frontal e temporal; 2) em adultos, as medidas de QI estimado irão se mostrar estáveis em decorrência da estabilidade entre as funções de inteligência fluida e cristalizada; 3) em idosos, as medidas de QI estimado apresentarão correlação direta com a distribuição de SC envolvendo o córtex temporal e límbico; 4) em idosos, as medidas de inteligência fluida apresentarão correlação direta com a distribuição de SC em córtices frontal e pré-frontal; 5) em idosos, as medidas de inteligência cristalizada não apresentarão correlações significativas com a distribuição de SC. Metodologia: Os exames de imagens cerebrais foram obtidos a partir de uma amostra representativa com ampla faixa etária. Foi investigada uma amostra de 258 sujeitos entre 18 e 75 anos que preencheram os critérios de inclusão/exclusão, e para os quais é possível estimar o QI através de subtestes do WASI. Os resultados estatísticos de cada análise foram realizados utilizando a volumetria baseada em voxel sob a forma de mapas paramétricos estatísticos e a relação dos resultados foram somente os que sobreviveram a correção para comparações múltiplas. Todos os resultados foram corrigidos através das variáveis de confusão (protocolo,aparelho de ressonância magnética e volume cerebral). Resultados: Identificamos correlações entre QI estimado e de inteligência fluida em regiões temporais mediais e límbicas bilaterais, na população idosa. Na população adulta também identificamos correlações entre inteligência cristalizada envolvendo regiões frontais e pré-frontais direita. Observamos também que houve perda de SC na população adulta envolvendo as regiões pré-frontais e frontais à esquerda. Conclusão: As medidas de inteligência cristalizada e fluida apresentaram correlação direta com o volume cerebral total, e especificamente em córtices frontais, pré-frontais bilaterais, e em regiões temporais e límbicas / Introduction: The cognitive functions could be influenced by age, both during the development as well as during the decline. Measures of intelligence in general are related to the volume of gray matter (GM) in specific brain areas, and also are under influence of aging process. In children and adolescents the brain areas involved is mainly the prefrontal cortex, while in the elderly other areas, such as the frontal and temporal cortices play an important role. Objective: To identify which brain areas are involved in variations in intelligence measures in a representative sample of large age span, from young adults to healthy elderly. The main hypotheses are: 1) there would be an indirect association between age distribution of GM and surrounding areas of the frontal and temporal cortex, 2) in adults, estimated IQ measures would prove to be stable secondarily to adaptation between fluid intelligence and crystallized functions, 3) in the elderly, measures of IQ estimated would present direct correlation with the distribution of GM involving the temporal cortex and limbic, 4) in the elderly, measures of fluid intelligence would show a direct correlation with the distribution of GM and pre frontal cortices, 5) in the elderly, measures of crystallized intelligence would not present significant correlations with the distribution of GM. Methods: Brain images scans were obtained from a representative sample with large age span. We investigated a sample of 258 subjects between 18 and 75 who met the criteria for inclusion / exclusion, and for which it is possible to estimate the IQ subtests by the WASI. Correlation statistical analyses were performed using voxel-based methodology with Statistical Parametric Map Software, and reported only if survived multiple comparison correction. All results were corrected for confounding variables (protocol, MRI scan and total brain volume). Results: We identified correlations between IQ and estimated fluid intelligence in medial temporal and limbic regions bilateral in the elderly. In the adult population we also identified correlations between crystallized intelligence involving the frontal and prefrontal right. We also observed that there was loss of GM in adults involving the left prefrontal regions and frontal. Conclusion: Measures of fluid and crystallized intelligence showed direct correlation with the total brain volume, and specifically in the frontal cortex, bilateral prefrontal, and temporal and limbic regions

No description available.

Introdução: As funções cognitivas sofrem influência da idade, tanto no seu desenvolvimento como no seu declínio. De forma geral, as medidas de inteligência se relacionam com o volume de substância cinzenta (SC) em áreas cerebrais específicas e sofrem influência com o processo de envelhecimento. Em crianças e adolescentes as áreas envolvidas são o córtex pré-frontal, enquanto nos idosos e adultos jovens os córtices frontais e temporais desempenham um papel importante. Objetivo: Identificar quais áreas cerebrais estão implicadas nas variações das medidas de inteligência em uma amostra representativa de adultos jovens e idosos saudáveis. As hipóteses principais são: 1) haverá uma associação indireta entre distribuição de SC e idade envolvendo áreas de córtex frontal e temporal; 2) em adultos, as medidas de QI estimado irão se mostrar estáveis em decorrência da estabilidade entre as funções de inteligência fluida e cristalizada; 3) em idosos, as medidas de QI estimado apresentarão correlação direta com a distribuição de SC envolvendo o córtex temporal e límbico; 4) em idosos, as medidas de inteligência fluida apresentarão correlação direta com a distribuição de SC em córtices frontal e pré-frontal; 5) em idosos, as medidas de inteligência cristalizada não apresentarão correlações significativas com a distribuição de SC. Metodologia: Os exames de imagens cerebrais foram obtidos a partir de uma amostra representativa com ampla faixa etária. Foi investigada uma amostra de 258 sujeitos entre 18 e 75 anos que preencheram os critérios de inclusão/exclusão, e para os quais é possível estimar o QI através de subtestes do WASI. Os resultados estatísticos de cada análise foram realizados utilizando a volumetria baseada em voxel sob a forma de mapas paramétricos estatísticos e a relação dos resultados foram somente os que sobreviveram a correção para comparações múltiplas. Todos os resultados foram corrigidos através das variáveis de confusão (protocolo,aparelho de ressonância magnética e volume cerebral). Resultados: Identificamos correlações entre QI estimado e de inteligência fluida em regiões temporais mediais e límbicas bilaterais, na população idosa. Na população adulta também identificamos correlações entre inteligência cristalizada envolvendo regiões frontais e pré-frontais direita. Observamos também que houve perda de SC na população adulta envolvendo as regiões pré-frontais e frontais à esquerda. Conclusão: As medidas de inteligência cristalizada e fluida apresentaram correlação direta com o volume cerebral total, e especificamente em córtices frontais, pré-frontais bilaterais, e em regiões temporais e límbicas / Introduction: The cognitive functions could be influenced by age, both during the development as well as during the decline. Measures of intelligence in general are related to the volume of gray matter (GM) in specific brain areas, and also are under influence of aging process. In children and adolescents the brain areas involved is mainly the prefrontal cortex, while in the elderly other areas, such as the frontal and temporal cortices play an important role. Objective: To identify which brain areas are involved in variations in intelligence measures in a representative sample of large age span, from young adults to healthy elderly. The main hypotheses are: 1) there would be an indirect association between age distribution of GM and surrounding areas of the frontal and temporal cortex, 2) in adults, estimated IQ measures would prove to be stable secondarily to adaptation between fluid intelligence and crystallized functions, 3) in the elderly, measures of IQ estimated would present direct correlation with the distribution of GM involving the temporal cortex and limbic, 4) in the elderly, measures of fluid intelligence would show a direct correlation with the distribution of GM and pre frontal cortices, 5) in the elderly, measures of crystallized intelligence would not present significant correlations with the distribution of GM. Methods: Brain images scans were obtained from a representative sample with large age span. We investigated a sample of 258 subjects between 18 and 75 who met the criteria for inclusion / exclusion, and for which it is possible to estimate the IQ subtests by the WASI. Correlation statistical analyses were performed using voxel-based methodology with Statistical Parametric Map Software, and reported only if survived multiple comparison correction. All results were corrected for confounding variables (protocol, MRI scan and total brain volume). Results: We identified correlations between IQ and estimated fluid intelligence in medial temporal and limbic regions bilateral in the elderly. In the adult population we also identified correlations between crystallized intelligence involving the frontal and prefrontal right. We also observed that there was loss of GM in adults involving the left prefrontal regions and frontal. Conclusion: Measures of fluid and crystallized intelligence showed direct correlation with the total brain volume, and specifically in the frontal cortex, bilateral prefrontal, and temporal and limbic regions

Organisationer behöver kvalificerad personal för att fungera effektivt och därmed blir rekrytering en viktig aktivitet. Det är också angeläget att ny personal anpassar sig väl till arbetsförhållandena. Syftet med denna avhandling var att tydliggöra möjligheterna att genom urval bidra till en långsiktigt hållbar rekrytering för organisation, individ och samhälle. Avhandlingen omfattar tre delstudier och baseras på data från rekrytering av nya poliser i Sverige. En kohort har följts från urvalet av de sökande till polisutbildningen våren 2008 (N = 1 344) över tre uppföljningstillfällen (N = 717–729), nämligen vid slutet av två års polisutbildning, vid slutet av sex månaders aspirantutbildning och vid slutet av det första anställningsåret. Studie I syftade till att undersöka möjligheterna att välja ut de sökande som är mest lämpade att bli poliser genom att kombinera information från flera urvalsmetoder. Vanligtvis används intervjuer för att i slutet av urvalsprocessen välja ut de mest lämpade kandidaterna. Analyser med flera kriterier på framgångsrik rekrytering (prestation, tillfredsställelse med utbildning respektive arbete, vilja att stanna i yrket och hälsa) vid de tre uppföljningstillfällen, visade att ett alternativt förfarande – att kombinera information från urvalsmetoder som i tidigare steg använts för att sålla bort olämpliga sökande – hade högre prognosförmåga. Det handlade om information från begåvningstest, personlighetstest och konditionstest. Ett sådant förfarande kan också vara mer tillförlitligt och resurseffektivt. Vid urval av poliser bör intervjuer däremot främst ses som ett verktyg för att sålla bort olämpliga kandidater. Studie II syftade till att öka förståelsen för hur resultat från begåvningstest ska tolkas och användas vid urval. För de flesta yrken, inklusive polisyrket, har begåvningstest visats vara en av de urvalsmetoder som bäst predicerar prestation. Det har förklarats med effekter av generell begåvning. Resultaten från Studie II visade dock att utöver generell begåvning kan också en verbal och kunskapsladdad komponent antas viktig för att predicera prestation. Samtidigt gav studien stöd för att vid urval använda en samlad totalpoäng från begåvningstest. Studie III syftade till att undersöka den relativa betydelsen av urvalsfaktorer som personlighet och begåvning respektive den psykosociala arbetsmiljön för nya polisers arbetsrelaterade attityder och hälsa efter det första anställningsåret. Studien visade att arbetsmiljöfaktorer, såsom möjligheter till utveckling och återkoppling i arbetet samt rimlig arbets­belastning, var betydligt viktigare än urvalsfaktorer för nya polisers anpassning till arbetsförhållandena i yrket. Sammanfattningsvis visar föreliggande avhandling att det är meningsfullt att över tid beakta flera kriterier på framgångsrik rekrytering. Den visar också att information från flera urvalsmetoder bör kombineras för att välja ut de mest lämpade kandidaterna. Vidare visar avhandlingen på värdet av att använda verbalt laddade begåvningstest vid urval. Förmågan att predicera framgång i polisyrket med olika urvalsmetoder är dock måttlig. Avhandlingen visar däremot att arbetsförhållandena för ny personal kan ha avgörande betydelse. Det betyder att organisationer som strävar efter hållbar rekrytering bör prioritera både urval och sunda arbetsförhållanden för ny personal. Det gäller inte minst polisorganisationer där kostnaderna för rekrytering är höga. / Organizations need qualified personnel to work effectively. Accordingly recruitment is an important organizational activity. Moreover, to attain sustainability for organizations, individuals, and the society, it is assumed important that new personnel adjust well to their working conditions. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of selection for long-term sustainable recruitment. The thesis includes three studies based on data from the recruitment of new police officers in Sweden. A cohort of new police officers was followed from the end of the admittance process to the basic police training program in spring 2008 (N = 1,344) and then at three consecutive follow-ups (N = 717-729), 1) at the end of two years of academy training, 2) at the end of six months of field training, and 3) at the end of the first working year. Study I aimed to further the understanding of how to select suitable police applicants by using combinations of common selection methods. Analyses of several criteria (performance, satisfaction, occupational retention, and health) at the three follow-ups suggest that combining information from cognitive, personality, and physical fitness tests, that in earlier hurdles have been used to screen out unsuitable applicants, would be useful in identifying the most suitable candidates, while interviews may primarily be considered as a tool for screening out any unsuitable ones. Study II focused on how to interpret and make use of results from cognitive tests in applied settings such as selection. In most occupations, including the police, cognitive tests are among the most valid predictors of performance. This has been explained by the influence of general intelligence. However, the results from Study II showed that beyond general intelligence, a verbal and knowledge loaded component can be important in predicting performance. Also, the study supported the use of total scores in selection. Study III aimed to examine the relative importance of selection factors (e.g., personality and general intelligence) and psychosocial working conditions for new police officers’ work-related attitudes and health. The study showed that psychosocial working conditions, such as opportunities for development and feedback as well as a balanced workload, were far more important than selection factors for the new police officers’ adjustment to their occupation. Taken together, the thesis shows the value of considering several time points and several criteria of successful recruitment. Also, it demonstrates the usefulness of combining information from several selection methods to select the most suitable candidates, along with the value of using verbally loaded cognitive tests in selection. Still, the ability to predict success among police officers by using selection methods remains modest. Additionally, the thesis shows that the working conditions for new personnel can be considered crucial if recruitment is seen as a long-term process that also includes the introduction phase. Accordingly, organizations striving for sustainable recruitment need to focus on developing sound selection processes and providing sound working conditions for their new personnel. This is of particular importance for organizations such as the police, where the costs of recruitment are high. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>