IQ in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the intellectual ability and ratio of boys to girls with average or higher IQ within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases identified in a population-based birth cohort. We hypothesized that research-identified individuals with ASD would be more likely to have average or higher IQ, compared to clinically diagnosed ASD. We also hypothesized the male to female ratio would decrease as the definition of ASD broadened. METHODS: ASD incident cases were identified from 31 220 subjects in a population-based birth cohort. Research-defined autism spectrum disorder, inclusive criteria (ASD-RI) was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, autistic disorder (AD), Asperger Disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified criteria. Research-defined autism spectrum disorder, narrow criteria (ASD-RN) was a narrower definition based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision AD criteria. Clinical diagnoses of ASD were abstracted from medical and school records. Intellectual ability was based on the last IQ score or on documented diagnoses of intellectual disability if no scores available. Average or higher IQ was defined as IQ ≥86. RESULTS: A total of 59.1% of those with ASD-RI (n = 890), 51.2% of those with ASD-RN (n = 453), and 42.8% of those with clinically diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (n = 187) had average or higher IQ. Within the ASD-RI and ASD-RN groups, boys were more likely than girls to have an average or higher IQ (62.0% vs 51.3% [P = .004] and 54.1% vs. 42.5% [P = .03], respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that nearly half of individuals with ASD have average or higher IQ. Boys with ASD are more likely to have average or higher IQ than girls. Patients with ASD and higher IQ remain at risk for not being identified.

Factor structure of intelligence and divergent thinking subtests: A registered report.

Psychologists have investigated creativity for 70 years, and it is now seen as being an important construct, both scientifically and because of its practical value to society. However, several fundamental unresolved problems persist, including a suitable definition of creativity and the ability of psychometric tests to measure divergent thinking-an important component of creativity-in a way that aligns with theory. It is this latter point that this registered report is designed to address. We propose to administer two divergent thinking tests (the verbal and figural versions of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking; TTCT) with an intelligence test (the International Cognitive Ability Resource test; ICAR). We will then subject the subscores from these tests to confirmatory factor analysis to test which of nine theoretically plausible models best fits the data. When this study is completed, we hope to better understand whether the degree to which the TTCT and ICAR measure distinct constructs. This study will be conducted in accordance with all open science practices, including pre-registration, open data and syntax, and open materials (with the exception of copyrighted and confidential test stimuli).

Diseño y validación de la escala de Inteligencia Espiritual en la práctica sanitaria, Ica-Perú / Design and validation of the spiritual intelligence scale in health practice, Ica-Peru

INTRODUCCIÓN: La inteligencia espiritual es la única alternativa para humanizar los servicios de salud en los tiempos actuales de crisis; de ahí, que urge la necesidad de cultivarla y desarrollarla en las organizaciones de salud. OBJETIVOS: Diseñar y validar una escala para medir el perfil de inteligencia espiritual en la práctica sanitaria (EIEps), en una muestra de trabajadores de salud de Ica, Perú. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de diseño de validación de instrumentos documentales de tipo observacional y analítico, en 288 trabajadores de salud, el proceso incluye dos fases: Cualitativa (Creación del instrumento) y cuantitativa (Evaluación de sus propiedades métricas). RESULTADOS: El instrumento consta de 18 items, distribuidos en tres dimensiones, el análisis de fiabilidad presentó un coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach de 0,90; con valores de correlación ítem-total de 0,45 hasta 0,72; el análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró una estructura de tres dominios que explicaba el 54% de la varianza total. El análisis bidimensional demostró correlación significativa (p = 0,00) y directa, entre la Dimensión I (Vivencia espiritual en la práctica), Dimensión II (Pensamiento existencial) y la Dimensión III (Consciencia trascendental). CONCLUSIÓN: La EIEps, presentó una buena consistencia interna, con correlaciones moderadas y significativas entre sus ítems y constituye un instrumento que puede ser usado para medir el perfil de inteligencia espiritual en trabajadores de organizaciones de salud

INTRODUCTION: Spiritual intelligence is the only alternative to humanize health services in the current time of crisis; the urgent need to cultivate and develop it in the health organizations. OBJECTIVES: To design, and validate a scale to measure the profile of spiritual intelligence in health practice (EIEps), in a sample of healths works from Ica, Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A validation design study of observational and analytical documentary instruments was carried out in 288 health workers; the process includes two phases: Qualitative (creation of the instrument) and quantitative (evaluation of its metric properties). RESULTS: The instrument consists of 18 items, distributed in three dimensions; the reliability analysis presented a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.90; with item-total correlation values of 0.45 to 0.72; the confirmatory factor analysis showed a three-domain structure that explained 54% of the total variance. The two-dimensional demostration analysis showed significant (p = 0.00) and direct correlation between Dimension I (Spiritual experience in practice), Dimension II (Existential Thought) and Dimension III (Transcendental Consciousness). CONCLUSION: The EIEps presented a good internal consistency, with moderate and significant correlations between its items and constitutes an instrument that can be used to measure the profile of spiritual intelligence in health organization workers

The Dunning-Kruger effect in Emirati college students: evidence for generalizability across cultures

Past research reports higher levels of overconfidence for low performers compared to more proficient performers. This finding has been attributed to low performers' lack of insight into their cognitive processes, and it is referred as the Dunning-Kruger effect. This effect has been replicated across various tasks and domains. To date, however, there have been very limited explorations of the Dunning-Kruger effect in individuals from Non-Western, collectivist countries, where self-enhancing biases might be less prevalent. The aim of this study is to explore whether the Dunning-Kruger effect is also demonstrated among Arab, college students in the United Arab Emirates. Emirati, female college students completed a matrix reasoning task and subsequently assessed their own performance on it by estimating their raw score. The results replicated the Dunning-Kruger effect. Participants scoring in the lowest quartile significantly overestimated their performance and demonstrated levels of overconfidence significantly higher than that of more proficient peers. This study extends our understanding of overconfidence and the Dunning-Kruger effect to the Arab world. The results are discussed with reference to proposed underlying mechanisms

No diasponible

Frequency of occurrence of four- and five-factor WAIS-IV profiles.

Interpretive strategies for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) include Wechsler's four-factor structure and the five-factor Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model. The frequency of profile occurrence and the contribution of demographic- and ability-related variables to their incidence are unknown. Current participants were 291 referrals (males = 134; female = 157) for neuropsychological evaluation with mean years for age and education of 34.94 (SD = 13.53) and 12.74 (SD = 2.46), respectively. Lichtenberger and Kaufman's guidelines for selecting each model were applied. Of the total, 67.3% were four-factor and 32.6% were five-factor profiles. The same pattern emerged when participants were subdivided by gender, education, ethnicity, IQ, and diagnosis. A noteworthy association between IQ and profile type emerged. When IQ increased, four-factor profiles declined and five-factors increased. A logistic regression, using demographics, IQ, and diagnosis as predictors, correctly classified 64.8% of participants. The average subtest intercorrelations and g saturations in the four-factor group were substantially larger than those for five-factor participants. These findings were consistent with Spearman's differentiation by ability hypothesis.

Mutualistic Coupling Between Vocabulary and Reasoning in Young Children: A Replication and Extension of the Study by Kievit et al. (2017).

Recent work suggests that the positive manifold of individual differences may arise, or be amplified, by a mechanism called mutualism. Kievit et al. (2017) showed that a latent change score implementation of the mutualism model outperformed alternative models, demonstrating positive reciprocal interactions between vocabulary and reasoning during development. Here, we replicated these findings in a cohort of children (N = 227, 6-8 years old) and expanded the findings in three directions. First, a third wave of data was included, and the findings were robust to alternative model specifications. Second, a simulation demonstrated that data sets of similar magnitude and distributional properties could have, in principle, favored alternative models with close to 100% power. Third, we found support for the hypothesis that mutualistic-coupling effects are stronger and self-feedback parameters weaker in younger children. Together, these findings replicated the work of Kievit et al. (2017) and further support the hypothesis that mutualism supports cognitive development.

Interpretación del WISC-IV: índices alternativos para la evaluación de las habilidades cristalizadas / Interpretation of the WISC-IV: alternative indices for the evaluation of crystallized abilities

Resumen En este artículo se presentan dos índices alternativos para la evaluación e interpretación de las habilidades cristalizadas a partir del WISC-IV versión argentina: el índice conocimiento léxico (Gc-VL) y el índice información general (Gc-K0). Para ello se trabajó con una muestra de 1036 casos. El análisis factorial confirmatorio revela altos índices que validan las nuevas puntuaciones. El análisis de fiabilidad resultó satisfactorio. A su vez, los resultados revelan correlaciones entre el índice comprensión verbal (ICV) del WISC-IV y los nuevos índices alternativos. Por último, se encontraron diferencias en las puntuaciones Gc-VL y Gc-K0 y el clima educativo del hogar. Si bien el WISC-IV propone cuatro índices compuestos y una medida global de la inteligencia (ICV, IRP, IMO, IVP y CIT), siguiendo los aportes de la teoría de Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC), se recomienda implementar estas puntuaciones alternativas en un contexto normativo e ipsativo, que favorezcan y enriquezcan el estudio de las capacidades cristalizadas del examinado.

Abstract This article presents two alternative indices for the evaluation and interpretation of crystallized abilities derived from the WISC-IV- Argentine version, the lexical knowledge index (Gc-VL) and the general information index (Gc-K0). To this end, we worked with a sample of 1,036 cases. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed high indices that validated the new scores, and the reliability analysis was satisfactory. In turn, the results revealed correlations between the verbal comprehension index (VCI) of the WISC-IV and the new alternative indexes. Finally, differences were found in the Gc-VL and Gc-K0 scores, and the educational climate of the home. Although the WISC-IV proposes four composite indices and a global measurement of intelligence (VCI, RPI, WMI, PSI and QI), following the contributions of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory (CHC), it is recommended to implement these alternative scores in a normative and ipsative context that favor and enrich the study of the crystallized capacities of the examinee.

Autismo y cociente intelectual: ¿estabilidad? / Autism and intelligence quotient: stability?

Introducción. El autismo es un trastorno heterogéneo. La posibilidad de determinar sus características a lo largo del tiempo tendrá una gran repercusión en el pronóstico y las predicciones que se puedan hacer. En ese sentido, el cociente intelectual y su posible estabilidad a lo largo del ciclo vital pueden ayudar a definir mejor el fenotipo del trastorno y sus necesidades asociadas. Desarrollo. Los estudios longitudinales muestran cierta estabilidad en las puntuaciones del cociente intelectual, sobre todo a partir de los años escolares. Antes, en la etapa preescolar, existe mayor variabilidad, especialmente en aquellos niños que tienen un funcionamiento intelectual límite o discapacidad intelectual moderada. Conclusión. Debe seguirse desarrollando más investigación para conocer el perfil cognitivo de las personas con trastorno del espectro autista y poder realizar predicciones a partir de su funcionamiento intelectual (AU)

Introduction. Autism is a heterogeneous disorder. The possibility of determining its characteristics over time will have a great impact on the prognosis and predictions that can be made. In that regard, the intelligence quotient and its possible stability throughout the life cycle can help to better define the phenotype of the disorder and its associated needs. Development. Longitudinal studies show a certain level of stability in intelligence quotient scores, especially starting from the school years. Before, in the preschool stage, there is greater variability, especially in those children who have a borderline intellectual functioning or moderate intellectual disability. Conclusion. More research should continue to be developed to know the cognitive profile of people with autism spectrum disorder and be able to make predictions based on their intellectual functioning (AU)

Successful intelligence and giftedness: an empirical study / Inteligencia exitosa y superdotación: un estudio empírico

The aim of our research is to look into the diversity within gifted and talented students. This is important to better understand their complexity and thus offer a more appropriate educational programs. There are rather few empirical works which attempt to identify high abilities profiles (giftedness and talent) that actually exist beyond the theoretical level. The present work intends to single out the different patterns or profiles resulting from the combination of the successful intelligence abilities (analytical, synthetic and practical), as defined by Stenberg. A total of 431 students from the Region of Murcia participated in this study. These students performed the Aurora Battery tasks (Chart, Grigorenko, & Sternberg, 2008), designed to measure the analytical, practical and creative intelligence. Analytically gifted students (n=27), practically gifted (n=33) and creatively gifted (n= 34) were identified, taking as criteria scores equal to or higher than 120 IQ on each intelligence. Different Q-factor analyses were carried out for the three groups of students, in such a way that students were grouped according to their similarities. A total of 10 profiles showing how successful intelligence abilities are combined were obtained, something that has made possible to support the theory put forward by Sternberg (2000): the analytical, practical and creative talent profiles, as well as the resulting combinations, the analytical-practical, analytical-creative, practical-creative profiles, along with the consummate balance talent (high performance in the three types of intelligence)

Ahondar en el estudio de la alta habilidad es importante para conocer los distintos tipos de superdotación y talento y poder ofrecer una mejor atención a nuestros alumnos. Existen pocos trabajos empíricos que traten de buscar los perfiles de alta habilidad que se dan en la realidad, más allá del nivel teórico. El presente trabajo trata de identificar los patrones de combinación de las habilidades de inteligencia triárquica definidas por Sternberg en alumnos superdotados. Han participado un total de 431 chicos y chicas de distintos centros de la Región de Murcia. Estos alumnos completaron las tareas de la Batería Aurora (Chart, Grigorenko & Sternberg, 2008), diseñada para medir la inteligencia analítica, práctica y creativa. De ellos se seleccionaron a los superdotados analíticos (n=27) a los superdotados prácticos (n=33) y a los superdotados creativos (n= 34), tomando como criterio que su puntuación en dichas inteligencias fuera mayor de CI 120. Se realizaron diferentes Q-factor análisis sobre los tres grupos de alumnos, de forma que los alumnos se agruparon según sus semejanzas. En total se extrajeron 10 perfiles que muestran cómo se combinan las habilidades de la inteligencia triárquica y que han permitido corroborar la teoría propuesta por Sternberg (2000): el perfil del talento analítico; el perfil práctico, el perfil creativo; el perfil analítico-práctico, el perfil analítico-creativo; el perfil practico-creativo y el perfil de equilibrio sumo

Fluid intelligence and executive functioning more alike than different?

OBJECTIVE: Fluid intelligence (Gf) has been related to executive functioning (EF) in previous studies, and it is also known to be correlated with crystallized intelligence (Gc). The present study includes representative measures of Gf, Gc, and EF frequently used in clinical practice to examine this Gf-EF relation. It is hypothesised that the Gf-EF relation is higher than the Gc-EF relation, and that working memory in particular (as a measure of EF) shows a high contribution to this relation. METHOD: Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on a mixed neuropsychiatric and non-clinical sample consisting of 188 participants, using the Kaufman Adolescent and Adult Intelligence Test, and three executive tasks of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, covering working memory, planning skills, and set shifting. RESULTS: The model fitted the data well [χ²(24)=35.25, p=0.07, RMSEA=0.050]. A very high correlation between Gf and EF was found (0.91), with working memory being the most profound indicator. A moderate to high correlation between Gc and EF was present. Current results are consistent with findings of a strong relation between Gf and working memory. CONCLUSION: Gf and EF are highly correlated. Gf dysfunction in neuropsychiatric patients warrants further EF examination and vice versa. It is discussed that results confirm the need to distinguish between specific versus general fluid/executive functioning, the latter being more involved when task complexity and novelty increase. This distinction can provide a more refined differential diagnosis and improve neuropsychiatric treatment indication.

Hubris and humility effect and the domain-masculine intelligence type in two countries: Colombia and the UK

Spanish-speaking Colombian (n = 50) and English-speaking British (N = 52) adults completed a self-assessed intelligence measure that yielded a score on domain-masculine intelligence (DMIQ), a composite of mathematical/logical and spatial intelligences. They also completed a Sex Role inventory in order to establish their masculinity and femininity. Males in both countries gave significantly higher self-estimates (Colombia: Males 110.36, Females 100.75, d = .94; England: Males 114.37, Females 105.75, d = .86; both p < .01) than females but sex role was note related to DMIQ. However there was a positive relationship between masculinity and DMIQ (r = .45, r = .39, p < .01), but only for males. Cultural issues in self-assessed intelligence and limitations, particularly sample size of this exploratory study are considered (AU)

No disponible

Are verbal intelligence subtests and reading measures immune to non-credible effort?

The validity of neuropsychological testing is reliant on examinees putting forth adequate effort, yet it has been asserted that verbal subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS) are insensitive to suboptimal effort in comparison to other commonly used neuropsychological measures. The current study examined performance differences on the entire WAIS-IV and WRAT-4 Reading, as well as the CVLT-II and several WMS-IV subtests, in 207 Veterans classified into Credible Effort (n = 146) and Non-credible Effort (n = 61) groups. Analyses revealed that the Non-credible Effort group performed significantly lower on all examined measures including verbal tests, with moderate to large effect sizes observed for most tests. Current findings thus indicate that WAIS-IV verbal subtests and reading ability measures, such as on the WRAT-4, are not insensitive to effects of non-credible effort. Consequently it is recommended that these tests not generally be used to estimate baseline intellectual functioning when found in the presence of non-credible effort. While there was broad performance suppression across all measures examined, results also showed a distinct continuum of test susceptibility with some measures being more or less sensitive to inadequate effort. Recommendations for future performance validity test development are presented.

Somatotype and intellectual ability (Raven progressive matrices test) in Chilean school-age children / Somatotipo y capacidad intelectual (prueba de matrices progresivas de Raven) en escolares chilenos

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between somatotype and intellectual ability (IA) in 11-12 and 15-16 year-old students (n = 1,015) in the Chile's Metropolitan Region from a representative sample of 33 educational establishments chosen at random. METHODS: The Heath-Carter somatotype and the IA assessed through the Raven Progressive Matrices Test were measured. RESULTS: The endomorph was observed in 59% of the students; 28% had a mesomorph and 13% ectomorph. The IA was distributed in: 11.2% Grade I, 26.8% Grade II, 41% Grade III, 17.6% Grade IV and 3.2% Grade V. A positive and significant correlation of IA with the endomorphic component (r = 0.074, p = 0.02) was found in the total sample and only in females (r = 0.109, p = 0.02); at the same time, a positive and significant correlation with the ectomorph component was also observed (r = 0.067, p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that other variables would influence more strongly the IA for which further research is needed to quantitate this multifactorial problem (AU)

Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la relación entre el somatotipo y la habilidad intelectual (HA) en estudiantes de 11-12 y 15-16 años de edad de la Región Metropolitana, Chile. Métodos: Se registró una muestra representativa de 1.015 escolares de acuerdo a los resultados del sistema de medición de la calidad de la educación (SIMCE) 2009. Se evaluó el somatotipo de Heath-Carter y la HA de acuerdo al Test de Matrices Progresivas de Raven. Resultados: Un 59% presentó un somatotipo endomórfico, 28% mesomórfico y 13% ectomorfo. La HA se distribuyó en: 11,2% Grado I, 26,8% Grado II, 41% Grado III, 17,6% Grado IV y 3,2% Grado V. Se presenta una correlación significativa positiva con el componente endomórfico (r = 0,074 p = 0,02), y sólo en mujeres (r = 0,109 p = 0,02), a la vez se observa una relación significativa positiva con el componente ectomorfo (r = 0,067 p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Esto sugiere que otras variables estarían influyendo más fuertemente en la HA, además de apoyar la no discriminación por biotipo en los establecimientos educacionales (AU)

Aproximación a la base teórica de la inteligencia policial / An approach to the theoretical foundation of police intelligence / Aproximação à base teórica da inteligência policial

Este trabajo de investigación es una juiciosa aproximación que se realizó con el propósito de describir los fundamentos de conocimiento que caracterizan la inteligencia policial como disciplina científica. Los resultados obtenidos se centran en identificar el marco teórico afín con la práctica de la actividad que se desarrolla en la Dirección de Inteligencia Policial, proponer un concepto de inteligencia policial y fundamentar en forma teórica los rasgos característicos de esta. El precedente para iniciar la indagación, a través de consulta documental, grupos focales y seminario, se fundó en la identificación de un problema medular: la ausencia de una estructura sistemática de proposiciones que versara sobre los fundamentos de conocimiento que dan soporte a la inteligencia policial, y la cotidiana confusión de esta con otras áreas de conocimiento, al considerárseles, de manera errónea, como sinónimos. Cuando se propone, con elementos argumentativos de rigor, que dicha inteligencia tiene las características de una disciplina científica, y que se diferencia sustancialmente de cualquier otra actividad, se busca suscitar una reflexión crítica respecto de que la inteligencia policial la desarrollan de manera exclusiva los cuerpos de policía, para orientar la acción del ente policiaco en materia de convivencia.

This research work is an approximation made in order to describe the knowledge foundations and features of police intelligence as a scientific discipline. The results obtained are centered on the identification of the theoretical framework bearing an affinity with the practice of the activity being developed at the “Direccion de Inteligencia Policial”, the Police Intelligence Authority, and the proposal of a new concept serving to support its main characteristics in a theoretical way. The precedent used to initiate the inquiry through documentary consultation, focus groups and seminars, was based on the identification of a core problem: the absence of a systematic structure of propositions dealing with the knowledge grounds supporting police intelligence and the persistent tendency to confuse it with other knowledge areas by erroneously considering them as synonyms. Where it is suggested by using customary argumentative elements that this intelligence bears the features of a scientific discipline substantially different from any other activity, the purpose here consists of generating a critical reflection around the concept that police intelligence is exclusively developed by police forces in order to orientate the police entity’s action dealing with coexistence.

Esse trabalho de investigação é uma aproximação que feita a fim de descrever as fundamentos do conhecimento que caracterizam a inteligência policial como disciplina científica. Os resultados centram-se em identificar o enquadramento teórico compatível com a prática da atividade que é desenvolvida na Direção da Inteligência Policial, propôr um conceito da inteligência policial e basear teoricamente as características típicas desta. O precedente para iniciar o a indagação, através da consulta documental, os grupos focais e o seminário, foi baseado na identificação de um problema essencial: a ausência de uma estrutura o sistemática das propostas que tenha referência sobre os fundamentos do conhecimento que dão a sustentação à inteligência policial, e a confusão diária disto com outras áreas de conhecimento, quando consideram-se, da maneira errônea, como sinônimos. Quando, com elementos argumentativos de rigor, propõe-se que esta inteligência tem as características de uma disciplina científica, e que diferencia-se substancialmente de alguma outra atividade, procura-se provocar uma reflexão crítica a respeito de que a inteligência policial e desenvolvida exclusivamente pelos corpos da polícia, orientando a ação da polícia na matéria do convivência.

A cross-battery, reference variable, confirmatory factor analytic investigation of the CHC taxonomy.

The Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) taxonomy has been used to classify and describe human cognitive abilities. The ability factors derived from the CHC taxonomy are often assumed to be invariant across multiple populations and intelligence batteries, which is an important assumption for research and assessment. In this study, data from five different test batteries that were collected during separate Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (KABC-II; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2004) concurrent validity studies were factor-analyzed jointly. Because the KABC-II was administered to everyone in the validity studies, it was used as a reference battery to link the separate test batteries in a "cross-battery" confirmatory factor analysis. Some findings from this analysis were that CHC-based test classifications based on theory and prior research were straightforward and accurate, a first-order Fluid/Novel Reasoning (Gf) factor was equivalent to a second-order g factor, and sample heterogeneity related to SES and sex influenced factor loadings. It was also shown that a reference variable approach, used in studies that incorporate planned missingness into data collection, may be used successfully to analyze data from several test batteries and studies. One implication from these findings is that CHC theory should continue to serve as a useful guide that can be used for intelligence research, assessment, and test development.

Aproximación a la inteligencia policial(la Policía Federal de México, 2006-2012) / An approximation to police intelligence (the federal police of Mexico, 2006-2012) / Abordagem a inteligencia policial (a policia federal do Mexico, 2006-2012)

Del 2006 al 2012, la política criminal del gobierno del presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa le dio preeminencia a la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal, encarnada en la Policía Federal, a la que se dotó de una moderna plataforma tecnológica para la inteligencia; por lo tanto, esta contribución se centrará sobre la inteligencia policial y el derrotero de los últimos seis años de la inteligencia de la Policía Federal mexicana.

From 2006 through 2012, President Felipe Calderon’s criminal policy gave priority to the Federal Public Security Secretariat embodied in the Federal Police which was equipped with a modern technological platform for intelligence. Therefore, this contribution will focus on police intelligence and the path of the Mexican Federal Police in the past six years.

De 2006 a 2012, a política criminal do governo do presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa deu preeminência para o Secretariado da Segurança Pública Federal encarnada na Polícia Federal, que é dotada de uma moderna plataforma tecnológica para a inteligência; portanto, essa contribuição vai se centrar na inteligência da polícia e o curso dos últimos seis anos da inteligência da Policia Federal mexicana.

Metaphorically speaking: cognitive abilities and the production of figurative language.

Figurative language is one of the most common expressions of creative behavior in everyday life. However, the cognitive mechanisms behind figures of speech such as metaphors remain largely unexplained. Recent evidence suggests that fluid and executive abilities are important to the generation of conventional and creative metaphors. The present study investigated whether several factors of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll model of intelligence contribute to generating these different types of metaphors. Specifically, the roles of fluid intelligence (Gf), crystallized intelligence (Gc), and broad retrieval ability (Gr) were explored. Participants completed a series of intelligence tests and were asked to produce conventional and creative metaphors. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the contribution of the different factors of intelligence to metaphor production. For creative metaphor, there were large effects of Gf (ß = .45) and Gr (ß = .52); for conventional metaphor, there was a moderate effect of Gc (ß = .30). Creative and conventional metaphors thus appear to be anchored in different patterns of abilities: Creative metaphors rely more on executive processes, whereas conventional metaphors primarily draw from acquired vocabulary knowledge.

Gender differences in the link between excessive drinking and domain-specific cognitive functioning among older adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated gender differences in the relationship between excessive drinking and two cognitive domains among older adults. METHOD: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, 3,888 females and 2,350 males were analyzed separately. Multivariate regression was used to analyze the association between excessive drinking and fluid intelligence score. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between excessive drinking and crystallized intelligence. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that compared to non-excessive drinking, excessive drinking did not have a significant impact on fluid intelligence for either women or men, but it had a significantly negative association with a high crystallized intelligence score for women. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that the relationship between excessive drinking and cognition varies with gender when crystallized intelligence is measured. Clinicians and service providers should consider gender differences when developing strategies for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related cognitive decline among older adults.

WAIS-IV subtest covariance structure: conceptual and statistical considerations.

D. Wechsler (2008b) reported confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) with standardization data (ages 16-69 years) for 10 core and 5 supplemental subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Analyses of the 15 subtests supported 4 hypothesized oblique factors (Verbal Comprehension, Working Memory, Perceptual Reasoning, and Processing Speed) but also revealed unexplained covariance between Block Design and Visual Puzzles (Perceptual Reasoning subtests). That covariance was not included in the final models. Instead, a path was added from Working Memory to Figure Weights (Perceptual Reasoning subtest) to improve fit and achieve a desired factor pattern. The present research with the same data (N = 1,800) showed that the path from Working Memory to Figure Weights increases the association between Working Memory and Matrix Reasoning. Specifying both paths improves model fit and largely eliminates unexplained covariance between Block Design and Visual Puzzles but with the undesirable consequence that Figure Weights and Matrix Reasoning are equally determined by Perceptual Reasoning and Working Memory. An alternative 4-factor model was proposed that explained theory-implied covariance between Block Design and Visual Puzzles and between Arithmetic and Figure Weights while maintaining compatibility with WAIS-IV Index structure. The proposed model compared favorably with a 5-factor model based on Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory. The present findings emphasize that covariance model comparisons should involve considerations of conceptual coherence and theoretical adherence in addition to statistical fit.