Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory

Raymond B. Cattell: British-American Psychologist

The Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory, (commonly abbreviated to CHC), is a prominent psychological theory on the structure of human cognitive abilities. Based on the work of three psychologists, Raymond B. Cattell, John L. Horn and John B. Carroll, the Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory is widely regarded as the most influential theory in the study of human intelligence. Based on a large body of research, spanning over 70 years, the theory was developed using the psychometric approach, the objective measurement of individual differences in abilities, and the application of factor analysis, a statistical technique which uncovers relationships between variables and the underlying structure of concepts such as ‘intelligence’ (Keith & Reynolds, 2010). The psychometric approach has consistently facilitated the development of reliable and valid measurement tools and continues to dominant the field of intelligence research (Neisser, 1996).

The Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory is an integration of two previously established theoretical models of intelligence: the Gf-Gc theory of fluid and crystallised intelligence (Cattell, 1941; Horn 1965), and Carroll's Three-Stratum theory (1993), a hierarchical, three-stratum model of intelligence. Due to substantial similarities between the two theories they were successfully amalgamated to form the Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory (Willis, 2011, p. 45).

In the late 1990s the CHC model was expanded by McGrew, later revised with the help of Flanagan. Later extensions of the model are detailed in McGrew (2011)^[1] and Schneider and McGrew (2012)^[2] There are a fairly large number of distinct individual differences in cognitive ability, and CHC theory holds that the relationships among them can be derived by classifying them into three different strata: stratum I, "narrow" abilities; stratum II, "broad abilities"; and stratum III, consisting of a single "general ability" (or g).^[3]

Today, the Cattell–Horn–Carroll theory is widely accepted as the most comprehensive and empirically supported theory of cognitive abilities, informing a substantial body of research and the ongoing development of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tests (Kaufmann, 2009. p. 91).^[4]

Background

Development of the CHC model

The Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Intelligence is a synthesis of Cattell and Horn’s Gf-Gc model of fluid and crystallised intelligence and Carroll’s Three Stratum Hierarchy (Sternberg & Kauffman, 1998). Awareness of the similarities between Cattel and Horn’s Gf-Gc expanded model abilities and Carroll’s Broad Stratum II abilities were highlighted at a meeting in 1985 concerning the revision of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery (Woodcock & Johnson, 1989). At this meeting Horn presented the Gf-Gc theory to several prominent figures in intelligence testing, including John B. Carroll (McGrew, 2005). Carroll was already a vocal proponent of the Cattell-Horn theory, stating in 1993 that the Gf-Gc model “appears to offer the most well-founded and reasonable approach to an acceptable theory of the structure of cognitive abilities” (Carroll, 1993, p. 62). This fortuitous meeting was the starting point for the integration of the two theories. The integration of the two theories evolved through a series of bridging events that occurred over two decades. Although there are many similarities between the two models, Horn consistently and unyieldingly argued against a single general ability g factor (McGrew, 2005, p. 174). Charles Spearman first proposed the existence of the g-factor (also known as general intelligence) in the early 20th century after discovering significant positive correlations between children’s scores in seemingly unrelated academic subjects (Spearman, 1904). Unlike Horn, Carroll argued that evidence for a single ‘general’ ability was overwhelming, and insisted that g was essential to a theory of human intelligence (Carroll, 1997).

Cattell and Horn's Gf-Gc Model

Raymond B. Cattell (20 March 1905 – 2 February 1998) was the first to propose a distinction between “fluid intelligence” (Gf) and “crystallised intelligence” (Gc). Charles Spearman’s s factors are considered a prequel to this idea (Spearman, 1927), along with Thurstone’s theory of Primary Mental Abilities (Thurstone, 1947). By 1991, John Horn, a student of Cattell’s, had expanded the Gf-Gc model to include 8 or 9 broad abilities (Horn, 1994).

Fluid intelligence refers to quantitative reasoning, processing ability, adaptability to new environments and novel problem solving. Crystallised intelligence (Gc) refers to the accumulation of knowledge (general, procedural and declarative). Gc tasks include problem solving with familiar materials and culture-fair tests of general knowledge and vocabulary (Horn & Cattell, 1966). Gf and Gc are both factors of g (general intelligence). Though distinct, there is interaction, as fluid intelligence is a determining factor in the speed with which crystallised knowledge is accumulated (Cattell, 1963). Crystallised intelligence is known to increase with age as we accumulate knowledge throughout the lifespan. Fluid processing ability reaches a peak around late adolescence, then declines steadily (Horn, 1981). Recent research has explored the idea that training on working memory tasks can transfer to improvements in fluid intelligence (Jaeggi, 2015).

Carroll's Three Stratum Model of Human Intelligence: General intelligence (g) fluid intelligence (Gf), crystallized intelligence (Gc), general memory and learning (Gy), broad visual perception (Gv), broad auditory perception (Gu), broad retrieval ability (Gr), broad cognitive speediness (Gs), and processing speed (Gt).

Carroll’s Three-Stratum Hierarchy

The American psychologist John B. Carroll (June 5, 1916 – July 1, 2003) was a student of both B. F. Skinner and L. L. Thurstone.

In 1993, Carroll published his ‘magnum opus’, Human Cognitive Abilities: A Survey of Factor-Analytic Studies, in which he presented ‘A Theory of Cognitive Abilities: The Three-Stratum Theory’.

Carroll had re-analysed data-sets from 461 classic factor analytic studies of human cognition, distilling the results into 800 pages, thus providing a solid foundation for future research in human intelligence (Carroll, 1993, p. 78-91). This project was a monumental task and the culmination of his life’s work in the field of psychometrics.

Carroll’s Three-Stratum Theory presented three levels of cognition: narrow abilities (stratum I), broad abilities (stratum II) and general abilities (stratum III).

Abilities

Broad and narrow abilities

The broad abilities are:^[5]

Comprehension-Knowledge (Gc): includes the breadth and depth of a person's acquired knowledge, the ability to communicate one's knowledge, and the ability to reason using previously learned experiences or procedures.
Fluid reasoning (Gf): includes the broad ability to reason, form concepts, and solve problems using unfamiliar information or novel procedures.
Quantitative knowledge (Gq): is the ability to comprehend quantitative concepts and relationships and to manipulate numerical symbols.^[5]
Reading & Writing Ability (Grw): includes basic reading and writing skills.
Short-Term Memory (Gsm): is the ability to apprehend and hold information in immediate awareness and then use it within a few seconds.
Long-Term Storage and Retrieval (Glr): is the ability to store information and fluently retrieve it later in the process of thinking.
Visual Processing (Gv): is the ability to perceive, analyze, synthesize, and think with visual patterns, including the ability to store and recall visual representations.
Auditory Processing (Ga): is the ability to analyze, synthesize, and discriminate auditory stimuli, including the ability to process and discriminate speech sounds that may be presented under distorted conditions.^[5]
Processing Speed (Gs): is the ability to perform automatic cognitive tasks, particularly when measured under pressure to maintain focused attention.

A tenth ability, Decision/Reaction Time/Speed (Gt), is considered part of the theory, but is not currently assessed by any major intellectual ability test. For this reason, it does not appear in cross-battery reference materials.

Decision/Reaction Time/Speed (Gt): reflects the immediacy with which an individual can react to stimuli or a task (typically measured in seconds or fractions of seconds; not to be confused with Gs, which typically is measured in intervals of 2–3 minutes).

McGrew proposes a number of extensions to CHC theory, including Domain-specific knowledge (Gkn), Psychomotor ability (Gp), and Psychomotor speed (Gps). In addition, additional sensory processing abilities are proposed, including tactile (Gh), kinesthetic (Gk), and olfactory (Go).^[1]

The narrow abilities are:

Quantitative knowledge	Reading & writing	Comprehension-Knowledge	Fluid reasoning	Short-term memory	Long term storage and retrieval	Visual processing	Auditory processing	Processing speed
Mathematical knowledge	Reading decoding	General verbal information	Inductive reasoning	Memory span	Associative memory	Visualization	Phonetic coding	Perceptual speed
Mathematical achievement	Reading comprehension	Language development	General sequential reasoning	Working memory capacity	Meaningful memory	Speeded rotation	Speech sound discrimination	Rate of test taking
	Reading speed	Lexical knowledge	Deductive reasoning		Free-recall memory	Closure speed	Resistance to auditory stimulus distortion	Number facility
	Spelling ability	Listening ability	Piagetian reasoning		Ideational fluency	Flexibility of closure	Memory for sound patterns	Reading speed/fluency
	English usage	Communication ability	Quantitative reasoning		Associative fluency	Visual memory	Maintaining and judging rhythms	Writing speed/fluency
	Writing ability	Grammatical sensitivity	Speed of reasoning		Expressional fluency	Spatial scanning	Musical discrimination and judgement
	Writing speed	Oral production & fluency			Originality	Serial perceptual integration	Absolute pitch
	Cloze ability	Foreign language aptitude			Naming facility	Length estimation	Sound localization
					Word fluency	Perceptual illusions	Temporal tracking
					Figural fluency	Perceptual alternations
					Figural flexbility	Imagery
					Learning ability

Model tests

Many tests of cognitive ability have been classified using the CHC model and are described in The Intelligence Test Desk Reference (ITDR) (McGrew & Flanagan, 1998). CHC theory is particularly relevant to school psychologists for psychoeducational assessment. 5 of the 7 major tests of intelligence have changed to incorporate CHC theory as their foundation for specifying and operationalizing cognitive abilities/processes. Since even all modern intellectual test instruments fail to effectively measure all 10 broad stratum abilities an alternative method of cognitive assessment and interpretation called Cross Battery Assessment (XBA; Flanagan, Ortiz, Alfonso, & Dynda, 2008) was developed.

Conclusions

Consistent with the evolving nature of the theory, the Cattell-Horn-Carroll framework remains “an open-ended empirical theory to which future tests of as yet unmeasured or unknown abilities could possibly result in additional factors at one or more levels in Carroll’s hierarchy” (Jensen, 2003, p. 5). There is still some debate on the broad (stratum II) abilities, and the narrow (stratum I) abilities, and these remain open for refinement.

Finally, MacCallum (2003, p. 113-115) highlights the need to recognise the limitations of artificial measurement tools built upon mathematical models "Simply put, our models are implausible if taken as exact or literal representations of real world phenomena. They cannot capture the complexity of the real world which they purport to represent. At best, they can provide an approximation of the real world that has some substantive meaning and some utility."

Notes

1 2 McGrew, K. http://www.iapsych.com/CHCPP/CHCPP.HTML Retrieved 12/6/2011.
↑ Schneider, W. J. , & McGrew, K. S. (2012). The Cattell-Horn-Carroll model of intelligence. In D. Flanagan & P. Harrison (Eds.), Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (3rd ed., pp. 99–144). New York: Guilford.
↑ Flanagan, D. P., & Harrison, P. L. (2005). Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues. (2nd Edition). New York, NY: The Guilford Press
↑ McGrew, K. S. (2005). The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory of cognitive abilities: Past, present, and future. In D. P. Flanagan, J. L. Genshaft, & P. L. Harrison (Eds.), Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues (pp.136–182). New York: Guilford.
1 2 3 Flanagan, D. P., Ortiz, S. O., & Alfonso, V. C. (2007). Essentials of cross-battery assessment. (2nd Edition). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

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