Graduation Term
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Psychology
Committee Chair
Dan Ispas
Committee Co-Chair
Alexandra Ilie
Abstract
Cognitive reflection is the ability to suppress intuitive thinking (Type 1) in favor of deliberative, analytical thought (Type 2). This study investigated cognitive reflection as a predictor of supervisor-rated job performance, exploring its incremental validity over general cognitive ability and conscientiousness. Results indicated that all three variables positively predicted job performance, with cognitive reflection explaining a significant, unique portion of the variance. Exploratory analyses confirmed that this predictive validity remained consistent across industry, age, and sex. Furthermore, cognitive reflection significantly moderated the relationship between general cognitive ability and job performance. These findings highlight the value of deliberative reasoning as a distinct construct in personnel selection. The discussion outlines the practical utility of non-mathematical cognitive reflection tests to reduce bias and provides new directions for improving job performance measurement and research.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Earll, Olivia, "Predicting Job Performance: The Incremental Validity of Cognitive Reflection Tests Over General Cognitive Ability and Conscientiousness." (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 2285.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2285