Assessing the validity of computer-game-like tests of processing speed and working memory

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 969 - 981
• Main Authors: McPherson, Jason, Burns, Nicholas R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01-11-2008; Psychonomic Society, Inc
• Subjects: Ability tests; Academic achievement; Adolescent; Adult; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Psychology; Computers; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term; Psychology; Psychology - methods; R&D; Reaction Time; Reproducibility of Results; Research & development; Studies; Validity; Video Games; Visual Perception; Fluid Intelligence; Space Matrix; Digit Symbol; Work Memory Task; Play Computer Game
• ISSN: 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/BRM.40.4.969

Processing speed (Gs) and working memory (WM) tasks have received considerable interest as correlates of more complex cognitive performance measures. Gs and WM tasks are often repetitive and are often rigidly presented, however. The effects of Gs and WM may, therefore, be confounded with those of motivation and anxiety. In an effort to address this problem, we assessed the concurrent and predictive validity of computer-game-like tests of Gs (Space Code) and WM (Space Matrix) across two experiments. In Experiment 1, within a university sample (
N
=70), Space Matrix exhibited concurrent validity as a WM measure, whereas Space Code appeared to be a mixed-ability measure. In Experiment 2, Space Matrix exhibited concurrent validity as well as predictive validity (as a predictor of school grades) within a school-aged sample (
N
=94), but the results for Space Code were less encouraging. Relationships between computer-game-like tests and gender, handedness, and computergame experience are also discussed.