Mechanical, Spatial & Abstract Reasoning

Book excerpt: This text provides an overview of key principles relating to mechanical, spatial and abstract thought. The aim is to facilitate the following learning outcomes. + Identify individual elements within a group of elements; + Identify a rule connecting a set of figures; + Complete a number of test questions by applying a rule connecting a set of figures; + Apply techniques aimed at increasing the speed at which logical rules are generated (the faster a person generates solutions, the higher the probability of a correct answer—in a given period of time); + Increase the number of elements a person can keep track of in responding to an item (span capacity). Someone with a larger span capacity than someone else can take into account more figures without making errors and hence has a larger probability of a correct answer. Mechanical, Spatial and Abstract Reasoning ability is a key element in identifying aspects of person’s general intelligence. That is why the vast majority of psychometric tests will have a component that relates to abstract and spatial reasoning. This ebook will provide a measure of eductive ability or fluid intelligence which is relatively independent of specific learning acquired in a particular cultural or educational context.