Investigating the Elaborated Relational Abilities Index as a Novel Measure of Cognitive Ability
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The need to reconceptualise intelligence in functional terms becomes apparent when reviewing traditional intelligence theories and testing methodologies. Relational Frame Theory offers a functional understanding of the intelligence concept by proposing a definition of it in terms of a well-understood behavioural process known as derived relational responding. While a growing number of researchers from different fields are coming to similar conclusions, what is needed to complement the Relational Frame Theory account is a functionally understood assessment of derived relational responding proficiency. The current thesis represents an in-depth experimental and psychometric analysis of the most recent version of the Relational Abilities Index (RAI; Cummins et al., 2023). Firstly, it was examined in terms of its convergence with a widely-used proxy measure of intelligence, in what was an entirely exploratory analysis rather than an effort to establish convergent validity. Both the full RAI and all its subscales significantly correlated with performance on Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices. Moreover, the current thesis analysed the impact of four sociodemographic variables on RAI scores in order to quantify the assumed impact of environmental factors on relational responding proficiency. Of the variables examined, only parental education significantly predicted performance on the RAI, a finding that aligns with the literature on the importance of parental education levels on childhood cognitive functioning. Finally, the first-ever factor analysis of the RAI was conducted. The RAI’s current eight-factor model was found to be a poor fit, while better than the single-factor model. The implications of these findings for the further development of the RAI are discussed.
Author: Kaufmann, Carina Michelle
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7001362406