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A Flexible and Customizable Method for Assessing Cognitive Abilities

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  • Civelli, Andrea
  • Deck, Cary

Abstract

This paper describes the properties of a set of puzzles that are behaviorally similar to those of the common Raven Progressive Matrix test. Our puzzles consist of a three-by-three grid of images with the lower right element omitted. Each image is characterized by six characteristics that can vary along several patterns. Lab experiments demonstrate that the puzzles become more challenging as the number of characteristics that change increases. Further, the ability to correctly solve our puzzles is shown to be correlated with scores on the Raven Progressive Matrix test and with performance in a beauty contest game. Due to the manner in which our puzzles are constructed, there are a large number of unique puzzles that can be generated for use in economics experiments using software described in the paper. Thus our puzzles are well suited for use as an alternative method to assess the cognitive ability of respondents and for use as a real effort task with multiple levels of cognitive difficulty.

Suggested Citation

  • Civelli, Andrea & Deck, Cary, 2018. "A Flexible and Customizable Method for Assessing Cognitive Abilities," Review of Behavioral Economics, now publishers, vol. 5(2), pages 123-147, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:now:jnlrbe:105.00000081
    DOI: 10.1561/105.00000081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carpenter, Jeffrey & Graham, Michael & Wolf, Jesse, 2013. "Cognitive ability and strategic sophistication," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 115-130.
    2. Al-Ubaydli, Omar & Jones, Garett & Weel, Jaap, 2016. "Average player traits as predictors of cooperation in a repeated prisoner's dilemma," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 50-60.
    3. Cueva, Carlos & Rustichini, Aldo, 2015. "Is financial instability male-driven? Gender and cognitive skills in experimental asset markets," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 330-344.
    4. Benito-Ostolaza, Juan M. & Hernández, Penélope & Sanchis-Llopis, Juan A., 2016. "Do individuals with higher cognitive ability play more strategically?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 5-11.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ji Yong Lee & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Cary Deck & Andreas C. Drichoutis, 2020. "Cognitive Ability and Bidding Behavior in Second Price Auctions: An Experimental Study," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(5), pages 1494-1510, October.
    2. Christoph Drobner, 2020. "Motivated Beliefs and Anticipation of Uncertainty Resolution," Munich Papers in Political Economy 07, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy and the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich.
    3. Deck, Cary & Jahedi, Salar & Sheremeta, Roman, 2021. "On the consistency of cognitive load," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Brice Corgnet & Cary Deck & Mark DeSantis & David Porter, 2022. "Forecasting Skills in Experimental Markets: Illusion or Reality?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(7), pages 5216-5232, July.
    5. Heinke, Steve & Olschewski, Sebastian & Rieskamp, Jörg, 2022. "Experiences and Asset Price Dynamics," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264017, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Andrea Civelli & Cary Deck & Justin D. LeBlanc & Antonella Tutino, 2018. "Rationally Inattentive Consumer: An Experiment," Working Papers 1813, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    7. Deck, Cary & Pate, Jennifer, 2022. "High time to study the relationship between marijuana use and economic behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1-14.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive Abilities Tests; Raven’s Matrices; Experimental Economics Tools;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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