Damian P. Birney
School of Psychology
University of Queensland
email: damian@psy.uq.edu.au
Tel: +61 7 3365 6516
 

This project links the process models of cognitive psychology and the psychometric models of differential psychology (individual differences) to assess the structural properties of the relational complexity (RC) metric in adult cognition. Three validation studies are employed. Study 1A demonstrates that underlying the latent cognitive abilities required for relational processing is a quantitative structure that is consistent with the principles of additive conjoint measurement. Study1B explores an advanced structural equation model derived from the principles of the relational complexity theory that tests key predictions in relation to three broad cognitive abilities – short-term memory, fluid-intelligence, and crystallized-intelligence. Study 2 examines the nature of relational processing capacity in tasks developed and tested in Study 1 using the easy-to-hard paradigm – an extension of the traditional dual-task approach. The easy-to-hard paradigm implements a correlational procedure to control for input interference that may be generated by simultaneous presentation of secondary and primary tasks. Finally, Study 3 explores the impact of relational complexity as a function of age.

    Birney, D.P., Halford, G.S., & Andrews, G. (1998). Suppositional Reasoning in the Knight-Knave Task:An Application of the Relational Complexity Metric. Paper presented at the 5th National Conference on Reasoning and Decision Making, Charles Sturt University, NSW.

    Birney, D.P., (1999). Why is a complex cognitive task complex? Knights, Knaves, Latin Squares and Relational Complexity Theory. Paper presented at departmental seminar series, School of Psychology, University of Queensland.

    Birney, D.P. & Halford, G.S. (2000a). Principles of relational complexity in cognitive task development. Paper presented at the Fifth Australasian Cognitive Science Conference, University of Melbourne (Jan 30 - Feb 2, 2000).

    Birney, D.P. & Halford, G.S. (2000b). Methods for analysing complexity in reasoning tasks: Links to Fluid intelligence. Paper  presented at The Fourth International Conference on Thinking – University of Durham, UK, 24-26th August, 2000.

    Birney, D.P. & Halford, G.S. (2000c). The psychometric properties of relational complexity in adult cognition. Poster presented at The BPS Cognitive Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Essex, UK, September 6th - 8th, 2000.

    Birney, D.P. & Halford, G.S. (submitted). Cognitive complexity of suppositional reasoning: An application of the relational complexity metric to the knight-knave task.

    Birney, D.P. (in preparation). Relational complexity in the Raven’s progressive matrices