PSIA System Statistics

Introduction

These statistics are from test candidates required to take the Personality Scales for Intelligent Adults before taking I.Q. tests (which was the policy around 2004, 2005). The scores are t-scores (mean = 50, σ = 10) normed on an earlier group, so this group need not have an exact mean and σ of 50 and 10. The System factor was phased out early on in the development of the P.S.I.A. because it did not hold up well as a factor internally, but is interesting nevertheless because of its relatively high correlation with I.Q. scores, and may be reinstated later. It consisted of a normed weighted sum of the Cold, Just, and Orderly scales.

Scores on PSIA System factor as of 18 February 2023

Contents type: Personality test other than for mental ability.   Period: 2003-2007

• n: 156
• Mean: 50.72
• Standard deviation: 8.73
• Range: 72.0
• Male mean: 51.14 (n = 125)
• Female mean: 49.00 (n = 31)
• Proportion of males among candidates: 0.801
• Resolution: 0.43

Scores by males

n = 125

Scores by females

n = 31

Correlation of PSIA System factor with other mental ability tests

Weighted average of correlations: 0.149 (N = 661)

Estimated g factor loading: 0.39

Ranking in above table is based on the unrounded correlations. All available data is present in this table, no tests are left out except for those with less than 4 score pairs. All known pairs are used, including possible floor/ceiling scores or outliers.

Estimated loadings of PSIA System factor on particular item types

These are estimated g factor loadings, but against homogeneous tests (containing only particular item types) as opposed to non-compound heterogeneous tests. Although tending to surprise the lay person, it is not uncommon for tests to have high loadings on item types they do not actually contain themselves. Such loadings reflect the empirical fact that most tests for mental abilities measure primarily g, regardless of their contents; that the major part of test score variance is caused by g, and only a minor part by factors germane to particular item types. It is of key importance to understand that this is a fact of nature, a natural phenomenon, and not something that was built into the tests by the test constructors.

N = 470

Compound tests have been left out of this table to avoid overlap.

Balanced g loading = 0.34

National means for PSIA System factor

For reasons of privacy, only countries with 3 or more candidates are included in this table. Ranking is based on the unrounded means, and then alphabetic.

Correlation with national I.Q.'s of PSIA System factor

Correlation of this test with national average I.Q.'s published by Lynn and Vanhanen:

• r = -0.05 (n = 156)

Correlation of PSIA System factor with personal details

Correlation with personal details of PSIA System factor - within females

Correlation with personal details of PSIA System factor - within males

Estimated g factor loadings for restricted ranges

In parentheses the number of score pairs on which that estimated g factor loading is based. The goal of this is to verify the hypothesis that g becomes less important, accounts for a smaller proportion of the variance, at higher I.Q. levels. The mere fact of restricting the range like this also depresses the g loading compared to computing it over the test's full range, so it would be normal for these values to be lower than the test's full-range g loading.

A high g loading for a non-cognitive test.

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