Development of a Test Battery to Assess Mental Flexibility Based on Sternberg's Theory of Successful Intelligence

摘要

A test battery to assess mental flexibility was developed based on Sternberg's theory successful intelligence (1985). New mental flexibility assessment instruments were developed and underwent formative and summative evaluation. The newly developed mental flexibility tests showed adequate reliability, and preliminary evidence of construct- and criterion-related validity. One mental flexibility factor explained 70% of variance in the test battery and was differentiated from the latent factor underlying divergent and convergent measures of fluid intelligence. Preliminary evidence of incremental criterion-related validity was found, suggesting that the mental flexibility test battery explains variance above and beyond divergent and convergent measures of fluid intelligence in criterion measures.