Intelligence and complex problem solving: Perspectives for a cooperation between differential-psychometric and cognition-psychological research

Previous studies finding no relationship between intelligence test performa nce and performance in complex problem solving have called into question th e validity of psychometric intelligence tests. This paper argues that such a conclusion is not justified. The theoretical justification for expecting an association between test performance and problem solving is presented, a nd numerous methodological problems are discussed as possible reasons for n or finding this relationship in certain studies. Methodological guidelines for adequately testing the hypothesis are proposed. Further new Empirical r esults are presented to support the position that using these methodologica l guidelines, psychometric intelligence test performance and complex proble m solving are indeed related. Finally, it is argued that the problems of ea rlier studies are the result of a lack of cooperation between differential- psychometric and cognitive researchers. In keeping with Cronbach (1975) an integration of these two research directions is suggested as fruitful.