The Development of Verbal Relations in Analogical Reasonings.
Robert J. Sternberg, Georgia N. Nigro · 1977
ABSTRACT A six-process theory of analogical reascrirg was tested by administering verbal analogy iteis tc students in grades 3 through college. The items were classified accordir.g tc five verbal relations: synonyms, antonyms, functional, linear ordering, and class membership. A new method of componential analysis that does not require precueing was used to investigate predictive efficiencies of the six processes. Response latencies and errcr rates were analyzed. Analogical reasoning ability was found to improve with grade level, had subsets of the theory successfully accounted for response latency and error data at various grade levels. Macring and application were important variables in grades 3 and 6; encoding and index cf association for the stem were the most important processes in ninth grade and undergraduate subjects. Perfcrmance also varied with type of verbal relation of the item. Functional and antcrymous relations were easier to process than linear crdering, syncnymous, and category name relations. The new method of breaking down component processes was found to be as successful as precueing at the adult level (the only level at which precueing has been used) . Implications for intelligence testing are discussed. (Author/RD)