Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the Arlin Test of Formal Reasoning (ATFR) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WA1S-R). Additional issues explored were the percentage of the sample group operating at formal operational levels and whether there were significant differences between scores on the two tests that were related to differences in gender. The sample consisted of 20 college students (9 females and 11 males) ranging in age from 18 to 20. Both the ATFR and the WA1S-R were administered to each subject. Scores for both tests were recorded for each subject as were dates of birth and gender.
Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between the ATFR Total scores and the WA1S-R Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance 1Q scores and the 11 WA1S-R subtest scores. A series of 1-tests was computed to determine significant differences in performance on the two tests by males and females. Subjects were categorized by the five cognitive levels assessed by the ATFR and the percentage of students
operating at each of the five levels was calculated.
The ATFR total scores correlated significantly with the WAIS-R Full Scale IQ score, Verbal IQ score, and Information and Vocabulary subtest scores. No significant differences between male and female group means were found on the ATFR or WAIS-R scores. Seventy percent of the subjects in this sample group were found to be operating at a formal level of cognitive ability, with 15% of the sample operating at a transitional level between formal and concrete cognitive ability and the remaining 15% assessed at a concrete level of cognition.
The statistically significant relationships between the Information and Vocabulary subtests scores of the WAIS-R and the ATFR in this sample group suggest they have a greater potential for measuring formal reasoning ability than do other component parts of the WAIS-R. Further research is indicated to define the nature of this relationship. Limitations in the generalizability of this study, due to the small sample size and timing of data collection, also warrant additional research to substantiate the findings of this study.
