Yesterday, I submitted a revised version of a manuscript to a journal. The topic is on how response times to IQ test questions can shed light on people’s abilities and test-taking behavior. This is one of the first peer-reviewed pieces of research on the RIOT IQ test, and we’re hoping that the journal finds it acceptable to publish. The first round of peer review has been very promising so far.
You can read the revised paper here: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/c82b7_v2
The support for dual process theory is compelling. The pattern where verbal retrieval tasks (Vocabulary, Information, Analogies) show negative tempo-ability correlations while visuospatial reasoning shows positive correlations perfectly matches predictions: automated knowledge retrieval benefits from speed (faster access to lexical/semantic memory), while novel visuospatial reasoning requires controlled processing time. Warne’s (2025a) factor analysis showing tempo factors don’t load on g is consistent with this - tempo reflects task-specific automaticity, not general intelligence.
@Marcelo Does this mean processing speed subtests on IQ tests aren’t measuring intelligence?
@Marcelo Does this mean processing speed subtests on IQ tests aren’t measuring intelligence?
@VeronicaTale Processing speed subtests (like Coding, Symbol Search) are different from tempo. Processing speed tests use extremely simple tasks where accuracy is near-ceiling and only speed varies. Those DO correlate with g (around r = .4-.6). Tempo is response time on ACCURACY-based items. This study shows tempo is independent of g after controlling for item difficulty - they’re measuring different constructs.
To clarify the taxonomy: Reaction time tasks (elementary cognitive tasks) → Processing speed tasks (simple, near-ceiling accuracy) → Tempo (response time on difficulty-varying items). All three are “mental speed” measures but reflect different underlying processes. Carroll (1993) classified them under separate factors for this reason. This study confirms tempo is distinct from ability.