Role of the matching familiar figures test-20 in the analysis of theoretical validity of the reflection-impulsivity: a study with personality

Abstract

The present study analyzes the theoretical validity of the cognitive style reflection-impulsivity with an approach based on cognition. For this purpose, it is explored the relationship between personality and reflection-impulsivity. The Matching Familiar Figures Test 20, MFFT-20 (Cairns & Cammock, 1978) was used. This test has not been employed in previous investigations with the same goal. However, the MFFT-20 has proved to be the most reliable test to assess reflection-impulsivity in children between six and twelve years old, and is the one recommended by specialized bibliography. The assessment of personality was made by means of the Spanish adaptation of the Children´s Personality Questionnaire, CPQ (Porter & Cattell, 1979). Results obtained from a sample of 94 participants between eleven and twelve years old indicate the inexistence of correlation between the studied dimensions of personality and reflection-impulsivity. As hypothesized, the only consistent and significant relationships were those of the scale of mental ability in the CPQ, and the dimension dominant-submissive, both interpreted within the frame of cognitive styles. Obtained data support the theoretical validity of the reflection-impulsivity with an approach based on cognition, as well as the divergent validity of the MFFT-20 for a sample of Spanish children. RESUMENEn este trabajo se analiza la validez teórica del estilo cognitivo reflexividad-impulsividad a través de una aproximación basada en la cognición. Para ello, se ha analizado la relación entre este estilo cognitivo y la personalidad, usando para la evaluación de la reflexividad-impulsividad el The Matching Familiar Figures Test 20, MFFT-20 (Cairns & Cammock, 1978). Este instrumento no ha sido empleado con tal propósito en la investigación previa, y esto a pesar de haberse constatado que se trata de la herramienta de evaluación con más garantías científicas para la evaluación de la reflexividad-impulsividad en niños de entre 6 y 12 años, y por lo tanto, la recomendada por los especialistas en esta área de trabajo. La evaluación de la personalidad se realizó a través de la adaptación española del Children´s Personality Questionnaire, CPQ (Porter & Cattell, 1979). Los resultados obtenidos a partir de una muestra de 94 participantes de entre 6 y 12 años ponen de manifiesto que la reflexividad-impulsividad y la personalidad son constructos independientes. Tal y como se predijo, las únicas relaciones significativas entre ambos aparecen para las subescalas de habilidad mental del CPQ, y la dimensión dominante-sumiso. Estos datos apoyan la validez teórica de la reflexividad-impulsividad conceptualizada a partir de una aproximación centrada en la cognición, al igual que la validez divergente del MFFT-20.Palabras clave: Estilos cognitivos, reflexividad-impulsividad, personalidad, MFFT-20, CPQ. Artículo recibido/Article

Impulsivity and speed–accuracy strategies in discrimination learning

“…Regarding the correlations between SAT and personality, our results are in line with previous research in which SAT scores did not show significant correlations with questionnaire measures of impulsivity (Bentler & McClain, 1976;Cairns & Harbison, 1975;Carretero-Dios et al, 2009;Glow et al, 1983;Victor et al, 1985). As mentioned earlier in the Introduction section, when SAT scores are considered as a measure of R-I cognitive style, they are not expected to correlate with measures of personality.…”

“…As mentioned earlier in the Introduction section, when SAT scores are considered as a measure of R-I cognitive style, they are not expected to correlate with measures of personality. The results, therefore, may be interpreted as an evidence of construct validity for the SAT scores as a measure of cognitive style (Carretero-Dios et al, 2009). Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that they could just be reflecting the usual lack of correlation between objective and self-reported measures of impulsivity (Reynolds, Ortengren, Richards, & de Wit, 2006).…”

“…In those cases in which individual differences in SAT are found to be independent of intelligence they are usually interpreted as differences in the reflection-impulsivity (R-I) cognitive style (Carretero-Dios, de los Santos-Roig, & BuelaCasal, 2009;Kagan, 1966;Quiroga et al, 2011). In this regard, a measure of cognitive style is not expected to correlate with measures of other constructs, such as intelligence or personality, in order to preserve its construct validity (Witkin, 1964).…”

“…Additionally, when SAT scores are considered a measure of cognitive style, they are not supposed to correlate with measures of impulsivity as a personality trait. In this regard, research has been relatively consistent in showing absence of correlation between SAT scores and questionnaire measures of impulsivity (Bentler & McClain, 1976;Cairns & Harbison, 1975;Carretero-Dios et al, 2009;Glow, Lange, Glow, & Barnett, 1983;Victor, Halverson, & Montague, 1985). However, the independence of the two constructs has also been called into question (Block, Block, & Harrington, 1974;Block, Gjerde, & Block, 1986).…”

Acute alcohol effects on subtypes of impulsivity and the role of alcohol-outcome expectancies

“…An alternative explanation of these findings could be that alcohol-related impairment expectancies and responses on the Information Sampling Task both reflect an underlying personality trait akin to conscientiousness. However, while research has suggested a link between self-report low impulsivity and conscientiousness (Flory et al 2006), there is no evidence to suggest that reflection impulsivity, as measured here, and conscientiousness are related (Carreto-Dios et al 2009). Additionally, the current data found in a post hoc analysis the relationship between impairment expectancies and reflection impulsivity to be present in the participants who believed that they had received alcohol and not in those who believed that they had received placebo, suggesting that the belief that alcohol was consumed facilitated the impact of expectancies on information sampling.…”