Factorial and Criterion Validities of Telephone-Assessed Cognitive Ability Measures

Abstract

A battery of cognitive tests was administered by telephone to 194 pairs of MZ and DZ twins: 112 pairs reared apart and 82 pairs reared together. The six measures, chosen to identify known intelligence and short-term memory factors, included two marker variables for crystallized intelligence (information and synonyms), two markers for fluid intelligence (analogies and figure logic), and two markers for short-term memory (forward and backward digit span). The data provide support for the feasibility of substituting telephone testing of abilities for more traditional assessment procedures.