A Test Battery for Measuring Individual Cognitive Ability: A Brief Practical Tutorial

Authors

  • Maria Lialiou
    Department of German Language and Literature I, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; IfL – Phonetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • Martine Grice
    IfL – Phonetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • Petra B. Schumacher
    Department of German Language and Literature I, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

Abstract

This tutorial provides a comprehensive, open-source collection of tasks, adapted and designed to measure key cognitive functions including inhibition, working memory, and processing speed. While a substantial body of research in experimental psychology focuses on these cognitive functions, many of the corresponding tasks are not readily accessible in one place — at least to the best of our knowledge. This lack of availability can create barriers for researchers seeking to investigate cognitive variability, necessitating additional time and effort to collate, design or code tasks that may already exist in some form. To address this issue, the present tutorial aims to make a battery of cognitive tasks freely available to the research community. By sharing these tools, we hope to enhance reproducibility in studies of cognitive variability and reduce the redundancy of repeatedly creating similar tasks from scratch. This resource is intended for researchers with an interest in exploring individual differences in cognitive and linguistic performance, offering a practical and efficient solution for accessing standardized tasks. Overall, this tutorial serves as a valuable contribution to the field, providing accessible tools to facilitate research, promote consistency across studies, and save researchers significant time and resources.