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Driving Factors of Individual Differences in Broad Retrieval Ability: 'Gr' Is More than the Sum of Its Parts

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Title: Driving Factors of Individual Differences in Broad Retrieval Ability: 'Gr' Is More than the Sum of Its Parts
Language: English
Authors: Benjamin Goecke (ORCID 0000-0002-3050-1848), Selina Weiss (ORCID 0000-0001-8796-2154), Oliver Wilhelm (ORCID 0000-0001-7980-1166)
Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 2025 51(2):301-319.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Individual Differences, Recall (Psychology), Short Term Memory, Intelligence, Affordances, Cognitive Ability, Long Term Memory, Factor Structure, Foreign Countries, Adults, Models, Measurement
Geographic Terms: Germany
DOI: 10.1037/xlm0001336
ISSN: 0278-7393
1939-1285
Abstract: Broad retrieval ability (Gr) posits an essential factor of human cognitive abilities. Previous literature indicates Gr is best modeled as a higher-order factor model with lower-level factors such as ideational fluency (IF), word fluency (WF), expressional fluency (EF), or figural fluency (FF). However, the dimensionality of Gr is not well studied. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether specific retrieval affordances such as differing retrieval time periods (e.g., short vs. long) can be psychometrically separated from more general retrieval affordances. Such a distinction would imply differential associations between specific retrieval, general retrieval, and other cognitive abilities, which, in turn, depict a vital part of explanatory models of individual differences in Gr. To test these assumptions, we conducted a multivariate study (N = 331) and evaluated competing latent variable measurement models for a variety of Gr tests. We then regressed the best measurement model onto working memory capacity, secondary memory, mental speed, and crystallized intelligence in order to evaluate the distinctiveness of Gr. Our results suggest that no specific retrieval affordances with regard to time periods can be distinguished. A higher-order model, with a second-order Gr factor above three first-order factors (IF, WF, EF, and FF) fitted the data best, extending previous literature by increasing construct coverage through the implementation of FF. All covariates show incremental predictive validity, beyond their communality. Summarizing, our results endorse a perspective on Gr as a strong and discriminant factor of cognitive abilities that is not affected by time constraints, and show that Gr is more than a linear combination of its parts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508252
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Driving Factors of Individual Differences in Broad Retrieval Ability: 'Gr' Is More than the Sum of Its Parts
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Benjamin+Goecke%22">Benjamin Goecke</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3050-1848">0000-0002-3050-1848</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Selina+Weiss%22">Selina Weiss</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8796-2154">0000-0001-8796-2154</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Oliver+Wilhelm%22">Oliver Wilhelm</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7980-1166">0000-0001-7980-1166</externalLink>)
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 19
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  Data: 10.1037/xlm0001336
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  Data: 0278-7393<br />1939-1285
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Broad retrieval ability (Gr) posits an essential factor of human cognitive abilities. Previous literature indicates Gr is best modeled as a higher-order factor model with lower-level factors such as ideational fluency (IF), word fluency (WF), expressional fluency (EF), or figural fluency (FF). However, the dimensionality of Gr is not well studied. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether specific retrieval affordances such as differing retrieval time periods (e.g., short vs. long) can be psychometrically separated from more general retrieval affordances. Such a distinction would imply differential associations between specific retrieval, general retrieval, and other cognitive abilities, which, in turn, depict a vital part of explanatory models of individual differences in Gr. To test these assumptions, we conducted a multivariate study (N = 331) and evaluated competing latent variable measurement models for a variety of Gr tests. We then regressed the best measurement model onto working memory capacity, secondary memory, mental speed, and crystallized intelligence in order to evaluate the distinctiveness of Gr. Our results suggest that no specific retrieval affordances with regard to time periods can be distinguished. A higher-order model, with a second-order Gr factor above three first-order factors (IF, WF, EF, and FF) fitted the data best, extending previous literature by increasing construct coverage through the implementation of FF. All covariates show incremental predictive validity, beyond their communality. Summarizing, our results endorse a perspective on Gr as a strong and discriminant factor of cognitive abilities that is not affected by time constraints, and show that Gr is more than a linear combination of its parts.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1037/xlm0001336
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 301
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      – SubjectFull: Individual Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Recall (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Short Term Memory
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Germany
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      – TitleFull: Driving Factors of Individual Differences in Broad Retrieval Ability: 'Gr' Is More than the Sum of Its Parts
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