TESTS OF
MENTAL ABILITIES
Some of my mental abilities tests were published by Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva (Center for Psychodiagnostic Instruments), but on several tests the work has not been completed yet. They are nevertheless interesting and (with limitations) useful, especially for research.
Besides the tests, listed below, I have constructed a few more computer tests which were tried only a few times.
The Patterns
The Patterns is a perceptual speed test. It is all on both sides of an A4 sheet. There's a pattern in the left side and four more on the right, among which only one is completely the same. Time for solving: 4'30', 36 items. Reliability: 0,86. Published by: Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva, 1992. Norms: high school (N=219), candidates for jobs (N=311), preventive testing (N=89). A similar test is part of the Army Battery, 1998 (reliability: 0,76).
Rotations
Rotations are a test of spatial ability. It is all on both sides of an A4 sheet. On the left side there is a pattern, on the right side there are four more. By rotating in mind it is possible to match some of them with the pattern on the left (those should be encircled), the others could not be matched (those should be crossed). Time for solving: 6', 90 items. Reliability: 0,94. The test was not published yet. A similar test is part of the Army Battery, 1998, only that among four patterns only the one which differs from others should be find (reliability: 0,81).
Napkins
Napkins are a test of spatial ability (visualization). It is all on both sides of an A4 sheet. It is designed for the above average level of ability. Items show paper squares, which were once or several times folded and punched. Designs on the right side show these paper squares unfolded, but holes are missing and the subject should draw them exactly. Time for solving: 20', 20 items. The test was not published yet.
The Memorizing Program Package
This series of tests was designed in distant past for Commodore computers. It consists of tests: Memory span (repeating numbers in the same order, in the reversed order and in mixed order), The Mental Counter Test (you must coun how many times a certain number is repeated in a series of numbers) and The Reasoning Test (a number series should be memorized and its correct continuation typed in). The battery was not published.
The Battery of Auditive Memory Tests
This is a series of four tests in which a subject listens to tasks (played by audio tape) and writes answers on a sheet of paper. The first test - Number Span - is a classical memory span test. The Words in Pairs is a test of associative memorizing. The Memorizing a Story is a test of memorizing meaningful material. The fourth test - Rearranging Initials is a test of mental manipulation (working memory). The battery was not published.
The Words in Pairs was also used stand alone. Two series of 14 word pairs are spoken by the assessor, the tested must remember the pairs and on the sheet of paper besides the first word of each pair write down the second one. A similar test is part of the Army Battery, 1998 (reliability: 0,83).
Also The Rearranging Initials was used stand alone. Series of words are spoken by the assessor, the tested must memorize them, arrange their initials in mind in alphabetic order and so ordered write them down. A similar test is part of the Army Battery, 1998 (reliability: 0,83).
The Escape
The Escape is a nonverbal reasoning test, designed in distant past for Commodore computers. The tested is represented by a figure on the screen, allowed to move within a limited area. Against him black dots are arriving in different patterns and the task is to avoid them. The test was not published.
The Series Test
The Series Test measures reasoning on nonverbal material. To each series of 15 patterns a correct continuation should be found. Time for solving: 20' (for 45 tasks) or 10' (for 30 tasks). Reliability: 0,86 (0,84). Published by: Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva, (1983, 1994, the test was published also in Croatia). Norms: several groups, research results were collected from various parts of Slovenia (N>3000).
The Codes
The Codes is also a test which measures reasoning on nonverbal material. It can be applied on an A4 sheet of paper or on computer (Windows). The Codes test is designed for people with high above average level of ability. Solving time is not limited. Each task consists of 4 patterns, coded with one or more letters. Each letter represents one attribute of that pattern. In the fifth box the pattern is missing, but its code is given. The tested should choose among the proposed patterns the appropriate one. The test was not published.
The Exclusions - nonverbal
This test from the Army Battery, 1998 also measures the efficiency of reasoning on nonverbal material. Among four patterns the one which differs from the others should be crossed. Reliability: 0,66.
The Classes - verbal
This test from the Army Battery, 1998 measures the efficiency of reasoning on verbal material. Among four words the one which does not belong to the class should be crossed. Reliability: 0,78.
The Wise Sayings
The Wise Sayings is a test of ideational fluency and originality. Each of 6 items consists of a nonfinished sentence. The tested should finish it with one word as many times as possible, making a wise saying. At the end of test among solutions, produced on each item, he should also choose the most original three solutions. The number of produced ideas counts (fluency) and the originality of ideas. The test was not published yet.
The Foreign Words
The Foreign Words is a verbal ability test. In each item among 4 Slovenian words one with the same meaning as the foreign word on the left should be chosen. The whole test is on both sides of an A4 sheet. Time for solving: 5', 54 items. Reliability: 0,94. Published by: Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva, 1991. Norms: high school (N=366), candidates for jobs (N=328), students (N=54). A similar test is part of the Army Battery, 1998, only that there are not foreign words but synonyms from Slovenian language (reliability: 0,86).
The Calculations
The Calculations is a number ability test. In each item a simple calculation should be made (mainly the basic four operations). The whole test is on both sides of an A4 sheet. Time for solving: 5', 40 items. Reliability: 0,89. Published by: Center za psihodiagnostična sredstva, 1992. Norms: high school (N=413), candidates for jobs (N=321), students (N=46).