Cognitive Ability Measures

Measures of cognitive ability assess individuals' intelligence or capabilities. We divide them into measures of global ability (i.e., overall intelligence) and measures of specific ability or competence (i.e., specific cognitive skills). Under measures of specific ability, we include both objective measures and subjective measures as they are often used to complement one another.

Global Ability

AH scales



Heim (1968)

Heim (1968)
Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM)

Raven et al. (2003)
Wechsler scales



Wechsler (1955, 1997)

Wechsler (1949, 2003)

Wechsler (1967, 2002)

Specific Ability

For related measures, see Decision: Approach: Competence
Advanced Vocabulary Test (V4) from the Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors

French et al. (1963)
Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT)

Frederick (2005)
Cognitive Reflection Test - Multiple Choice Versions (CRT MCQ-2 & CRT MCQ-4)

Sirota & Juanchich (2018)
Verbal Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT-V)

Sirota et al. (2020)
Financial Literacy

Lusardi (2008)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

n/a
Nelson-Denny Reading Test

Brown et al. (1993)
Quality of Social Functioning Index

Levin et al. (2023)
SAT, formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test

n/a
Shipley Institute of Living Scale - Vocabulary and Abstraction subscales (SILS)

Shipley (1946)
Zachary (1986)
Wesman Personnel Classification Test

Wesman (1965)
Numeracy: Objective & Subjective



Schwartz et al. (1997)

Weller et al. (2012)

Lipkus et al. (2001)

Peters et al. (2007)

Fagerlin et al. (2007)

Cokely et al. (2012)

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