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Cognitive abilities lab

The primary focus of our research is the understanding and explanation of individual differences in cognitive abilities, with a focus on intelligence, working memory, and executive functions. In particular, our research agenda is based on process overlap theory (Kovacs & Conway, 2016), a recent explanation of the general (g) factor of intelligence.

Additionally, we endorse a number of research programs broadly related to cognitive abilities and or psychometrics. For prospective students we also offer research topics broadly related to cognitive abilities, such as the correlates of IQ, approaches to the identification of giftedness, or computerised adaptive testing.

Selected publications

Kovacs, K., & Conway, A. R. A. (2016). Process overlap theory: A unified account of the general factor of intelligence. Psychological Inquiry, 27, 151–177.

Akhtar, H., Silfiasari, Vekety, B., & Kovacs, K. (2022). The Effect of Computerized Adaptive Testing on Motivation and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Assessment, 10731911221100995.

Klein, B., Raven, J., & Fodor, S. (2018). Scrambled Adaptive Matrices (SAM) – a new test of eductive ability. Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling, 60(4), 451–492.

Kovacs, K. & Conway, A. R. A. (2019). What is IQ? Life beyond general intelligence. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28, 189-194.

Kovacs, K., Molenaar, D., & Conway, A. R. A. (2019). The domain specificity of working memory is a matter of ability. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104048.

Conway, A. R. A. & Kovacs, K. (2020). Working memory and intelligence. In R. Sternberg (Ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 504-527.