The relationship between reaction time and psychometric intelligence in a rural Guatemalan adolescent population

In industrialized countries reaction time has been found to be related to m easures of intelligence and cognitive abilities. Little, however, is known about the validity of using such tasks in nonindustrialized countries. The present research investigated the association between reaction time and psy chometric intelligence in a rural Guatemalan adolescent population. Results indicated that speed and consistency of processing on reaction time tasks were related to psychometric intelligence. However, the magnitude of these relationships were considerably smaller than those reported in industrializ ed populations. Reaction time task performance accounted for less than 5% o f the variance in psychometric intelligence. Findings suggest that although reaction time tasks are associated with intelligence, the predictive valid ity of such measures needs to be established before use in nontraditional p opulations.