Psychometric Network Analysis of the Hungarian WAIS

TLDR

The positive manifold of cognitive tests has traditionally supported a general intelligence factor, but Process Overlap Theory argues that this g reflects an interconnected network of cognitive processes rather than a single latent trait. The study proposes psychometric network analysis as a preferable alternative to latent variable modeling for investigating intelligence. The authors applied psychometric network analysis to the Hungarian WAIS‑IV data and directly compared the resulting network models to latent variable models. Results show that network models fit the H‑WAIS‑IV data better than latent variable models, supporting POT and a network view of intelligence.

Abstract

The positive manifold—the finding that cognitive ability measures demonstrate positive correlations with one another—has led to models of intelligence that include a general cognitive ability or general intelligence (g). This view has been reinforced using factor analysis and latent variable models. However, a new theory of intelligence, Process Overlap Theory (POT; Kovacs & Conway, 2016), posits that g is not a psychological attribute but an index of cognitive abilities that results from an interconnected network of cognitive processes. From this perspective, psychometric network analysis is an attractive alternative to latent variable modeling. Network analyses display partial correlations among observed variables that demonstrate direct relationships among observed variables. To demonstrate the benefits of this approach, the Hungarian Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (H-WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2008) was analyzed using both psychometric network analysis and latent variable modeling. Network models were directly compared to latent variable models. Results indicate that the H-WAIS-IV data was better fit by network models than by latent variable models. We argue that POT, and network models, provide a more accurate view of the structure of intelligence than traditional approaches.