Raven's Progressive Matrices

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"Raven's" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Raven (disambiguation) or Ravens
(disambiguation).

The cover of a test booklet for Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices

Raven's Progressive Matrices (often referred to simply as Raven's Matrices) or RPM is

a nonverbal group test typically used in educational settings. It is usually a 60-item test
used in measuring abstract reasoning and regarded as a non-verbal estimate of fluid
intelligence.[1] It is the most common and popular test administered to groups ranging from
5-year-olds to the elderly.[2] It is made of 60 multiple choice questions, listed in order of
difficulty.[2] This format is designed to measure the test-taker's reasoning ability, the
eductive ("meaning-making") component of Spearman's g (g is often referred to as general
intelligence). The tests were originally developed by John C. Raven in 1936.[3] In each test
item, the subject is asked to identify the missing element that completes a pattern. Many
patterns are presented in the form of a 66, 44, 33, or 22 matrix, giving the test its
name.

Contents
[hide]

1Problem structure
2Versions
3Uses of the tests
4See also
5References
6External links

Problem structure[edit]
An IQ test item in the style of a Raven's Progressive Matrices test. Given eight patterns, the subject
must identify the missing ninth pattern

All of the questions on the Raven's progressives consist of visual geometric design with a
missing piece. The test taker is given six to eight choices to pick from and fill in the missing
piece.[4]
Raven's Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary tests were originally developed for use in
research into the genetic and environmental origins of cognitive ability. Raven thought that
the tests commonly in use at that time were cumbersome to administer and the results
difficult to interpret. Accordingly, he set about developing simple measures of the two main
components of Spearman's g: the ability to think clearly and make sense of complexity
(known as eductive ability) and the ability to store and reproduce information (known as
reproductive ability).
Raven's tests of both were developed with the aid of what later became known as item
response theory.
Raven first published his Progressive Matrices in the United Kingdom in 1938. His three
sons established Scotland-based test publisher J C Raven Ltd. in 1972. In 2004, Harcourt
Assessment, Inc. a division of Harcourt Education acquired J C Raven Ltd. Harcourt was
later acquired by Pearson PLC.

Versions[edit]
The Matrices are available in three different forms for participants of different ability:

Standard Progressive Matrices: These were the original form of the matrices, first
published in 1938. The booklet comprises five sets (A to E) of 12 items each (e.g., A1
through A12), with items within a set becoming increasingly difficult, requiring ever
greater cognitive capacity to encode and analyze information. All items are presented
in black ink on a white background.[4]
Coloured Progressive Matrices: Designed for children aged 5 through 11 years-of-
age, the elderly, and mentally and physically impaired individuals. This test contains
sets A and B from the standard matrices, with a further set of 12 items inserted
between the two, as set Ab. Most items are presented on a coloured background to
make the test visually stimulating for participants. However the very last few items in
set B are presented as black-on-white; in this way, if a subject exceeds the tester's
expectations, transition to sets C, D, and E of the standard matrices is eased.[4]
Advanced Progressive Matrices: The advanced form of the matrices contains 48
items, presented as one set of 12 (set I), and another of 36 (set II). Items are again
presented in black ink on a white background, and become increasingly difficult as
progress is made through each set. These items are appropriate for adults and
adolescents of above-average intelligence.[4]
In addition, "parallel" forms of the standard and coloured progressive matrices were
published in 1998. This was to address the problem of the Raven's Matrices being too well
known in the general population. Items in the parallel tests have been constructed so that
average solution rates to each question are identical for the classic and parallel versions. A
revised version of the SPM the Standard Progressive Matrices Plus was published at
the same time. This was based on the "parallel" version but, although the test was the
same length, it had more difficult items in order to restore the discrimination that the original
SPM had among more able adolescents and young adults when it was first published. This
new test, developed with the aid of better sampling arrangements and developments in the
procedures available to implement the item response theory, has turned out to have
exemplary test properties.[citation needed]

Uses of the tests[edit]

The tests were developed for research purposes. Because of their independence of
language and reading and writing skills, and the simplicity of their use and interpretation,
they quickly found widespread practical application. For example, all entrants to the British
armed forces from 1942 onwards took a twenty-minute version of the SPM. The routine
administration of what became the Standard Progressive Matrices to all entrants
(conscripts) to many military services throughout the world (including the Soviet Union)
continued at least until the present century. It was by bringing together these data
that James R. Flynn was able to place the intergenerational increase in scores beyond
reasonable doubt.[5] Flynn's path-breaking publications on IQ gains around the world have
led to the phenomenon of the gains being known as the Flynn Effect. Among Robert L.
Thorndike[6] and other researchers who preceded Flynn in finding evidence of IQ score
gains was John Raven,[7] reporting on studies with the RPM.
A 2007 study provided evidence that individuals with Asperger syndrome, a high-
functioning autism spectrum disorder, score higher than other individuals on Raven's
tests.[8] Another 2007 study provided evidence that individuals with classic autism, a low-
functioning autism spectrum disorder, score higher in Raven's tests than in Wechsler tests.
In addition, the individuals with classic autism were providing correct answers to the
Raven's test in less time than individuals without autism, although erring as often.[9][10]
The Triple Nine Society, a high IQ society, accepts the Advanced Progressive Matrices
form for one of their admission tests. They require a score of at least 32 out of 36 on or
before December 31, 1999 on the RAPM.[11] The International Society for Philosophical
Enquiry (ISPE) similarly accepts the RAPM as a qualification for admission,[12] and so does
the International High IQ Society.[13]

See also[edit]
NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test)
Spatial ability

References[edit]
Notes

1. Jump up^ Bilker, Warren B.; Hansen, John A.; Brensinger, Colleen M.; Richard, Jan; Gur,
Raquel E.; Gur, Ruben C. (2012-09-01). "Development of abbreviated nine-item forms of
the Raven's standard progressive matrices test". Assessment. 19 (3): 354
369. doi:10.1177/1073191112446655. ISSN 1552-3489. PMC 4410094 . PMID 22605785.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (2009). Standardized tests in education,
civil service, and the military. Psychological testing: Principles, applications, and issues (7
ed. pp. 325327). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
 3. Jump up^ Raven, J. C. (1936). Mental tests used in genetic studies: The performance of
related individuals on tests mainly educative and mainly reproductive. MSc
Thesis, University of London.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Domino, George; Domino, Marla L. (2006-04-24). Psychological Testing:
An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139455145.
5. Jump up^ Flynn, James R. (March 1987). "Massive IQ Gains in 14 Nations: What IQ Tests
Really Measure" (PDF). Psychological Bulletin. 101 (2): 171191. doi:10.1037/0033-
2909.101.2.171. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
6. Jump up^ Thorndike, R. L. (1977). "Causation of Binet IQ decrements". Journal of
Educational Measurement. 14: 197202.
7. Jump up^ Raven, J. (1981). Manual for Raven's Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary
Scales. Research Supplement No.1: The 1979 British Standardisation of the Standard
Progressive Matrices and Mill Hill Vocabulary Scales, Together With Comparative Data
From Earlier Studies in the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Ireland. San Antonio, TX:
Harcourt Assessment
8. Jump up^ Hayashi et al.
(2007) http://www.freewebs.com/adiscussion/Superior%20fluid%20intelligence%20in%20ch
ildren%20with%20Asperger's%20disorder.pdf
9. Jump up^ Dawson M, Soulires I, Gernsbacher MA, Mottron L (2007). "The level and
nature of autistic intelligence". Psychol Sci. 18 (8): 65762. doi:10.1111/j.1467-
9280.2007.01954.x. PMID 17680932. Lay summary ScienceDaily (2007-08-05).
10. Jump up^ Dawson M, Gernsbacher MA, Mottron L (2011). "The level and nature of autistic
intelligence II: What about Asperger Syndrome?". PLoS ONE. 6: 657
62. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025372. PMC 3182210 . PMID 21991394. Lay
summary ScienceDaily (2011-09-02).
11. Jump up^ http://www.triplenine.org/HowtoJoin/TestScores.aspx
12. Jump up^ http://www.thethousand.com/scores.html
13. Jump up^ http://www.highiqsociety.org/submit-qualifying-score.php
Bibliography

Raven, J., Raven, J.C., & Court, J.H. (2003, updated 2004) Manual for Raven's
Progressive Matrices and Vocabulary Scales. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
Raven, J., & Raven, J. (eds.) (2008) Uses and Abuses of Intelligence: Studies
Advancing Spearman and Ravens Quest for Non-Arbitrary Metrics. Unionville, New
York: Royal Fireworks Press.
The above Manual is only available to qualified psychologists, chapter 1 of this
book is a more generally available source