Challenges to the Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory: Empirical,Clinical, and Policy Implications

ABSTRACT

The Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) taxonomy of cognitive abilities married John Horn and Raymond Cattell’s Extended Gf-Gc theory with John Carroll’s Three-Stratum Theory. While there are some similarities in arrangements or classifications of tasks (observed variables) within similar broad or narrow dimensions, other salient theoretical features and statistical methods used for examining and supporting them are in direct opposition. In this article, the theoretical disagreements between Carroll and Cattell-Horn and theoretical incongruencies between their models are delineated, which raises substantive challenges to CHC. Additionally, there are practical and substantial measurement obstacles that further threaten practical application of CHC. We conclude that the problems are due to some fundamental differences that likely will not change, so call for an annulment of this arranged but unhappy marriage.     

Deliberate performance: Accelerating expertise in natural settings

Deliberate practice—meaning drill‐like practice under the direction of a coach—is key to developing expertise in sports and music. But working professionals and businesspeople typically have no time for practice. We propose deliberate performance as a type of practice that professionals and businesspeople can pursue while they work as a way to accelerate their progression to becoming experts. Four deliberate performance exercises are described: estimation, experimentation, extrapolation, and explanation.     

MAKE LOVE! It＇s Heavenly and Sustainable

一看到“做爱”两个字,您可千万别想歪了!我们这里说的可是“大爱”,我们的存在本身就是靠“爱”来支撑,对供我们生活、成长、发展的能源,我们更要报以“爱”的回报,而不是无节制地掠夺和浪费。说到这里您一定能猜出Gary这篇文章的目的了吧!就让我们一起来看一看吧——     

Comparing the Utility of the 2000 and 2005 Carnegie Classification Systems in Research on Students’ College Experiences and Outcomes

This study compares the explanatory power of the 2000 edition of Carnegie Classification, the 2005 revision of the classification, and selected variables underlying Carnegie’s expanded 2005 classification system using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement’s spring 2004 administration. Results indicate that the 2000 and 2005 classifications generally offer comparable explanatory power for measures of self-reported gains and student engagement, but the new variables from the 2005 system are more strongly related to cognitive outcomes and engagement than were the two categorical groupings. The variables most consistently related to outcomes and engagement are graduate-undergraduate coexistence, residential character of the campus, and arts and sciences share of undergraduate majors. Implications of the findings for research and assessment are discussed.

Content and alignment of state writing standards and assessments as predictors of student writing achievement: an analysis of 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress data

We examined the degree to which content of states’ writing standards and assessments (using measures of content range, frequency, balance, and cognitive complexity) and their alignment were related to student writing achievement on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), while controlling for student, school, and state characteristics. We found student demographic characteristics had the largest effect on between-state differences in writing performance, followed by state policy-related variables, then state and school covariates. States with writing tests that exhibited greater alignment with the NAEP writing assessment demonstrated significantly higher writing scores. We discuss plausible implications of these findings.