ATTENTION SWITCHING COGNITIVE ABILITY TESTS
Tests that measure working memory:
ATTENTION SWITCHING TEST
Measures working memory and fluid intelligence (Gf). Examines the ability to change or switch between different tasks.
MULTI-TASKS
A test of higher-level problem solving ability. This test is often referred to as a dual task, as it involves solving two problems simultaneously. Competing tasks are good predictors of management ability.
- These tests measure both fluid reasoning (Gf) and Short-term memory (Gsm). This is defined as the ability to apprehend and maintain awareness of a limited number of elements of information in the immediate situation (events that occurred in the last minute or so). A limited-capacity system that loses information quickly through the decay of memory traces, unless an individual activates other cognitive resources to maintain the information in immediate awareness.
- These tests also measure memory span which is the ability to attend to, register, and immediately recall (after only one presentation) temporally ordered elements and then reproduce the series of elements in correct order.
- They also measure working memory which is defined as the ability to temporarily store and perform a set of cognitive operations on information that requires divided attention and the management of the limited capacity resources of shortterm memory. Is largely recognised to be the mind’s “scratchpad”. It is argued to be one of the most critical components of a person’s cognitive ability.
- Multi-tasks tests in particular, have been shown to predict managerial potential. Tests that challenge a candidate’s working memory are used in pre-employment testing regimes across a wide variety of job levels. They are an extremely useful type of psychometric test that measures the type of cognitive ability involved in managing competing task demands in the workplace.
