Abstract Matrix Reasoning

Background

Matrix Reasoning Tests are popular psychological assessment tools of non-verbal inductive reasoning. Specifically, they test pattern-recognition abilities that require people to infer the nature of a missing grid/matrix element based on the underlying rules that dictate the organization and appearance of the existing grid elements.

The first matrix problems were developed by Charles Spearman in the early 20th century as part of his work on the general intelligence factor 'g'. His student John Raven expanded and refined this early work and published the first widely used assessment tool "The Standard Progressive Matrices" in 1938.

To this day, the Raven's Matrizes are the gold standard to measure 'fluid' intelligence, the capacity to solve novel problems independent of language and acquired knowledge and are an integral part of intelligence batteries such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

Millisecond's Matrix Reasoning Tests use the publicly available set of 3x3 matrix problems generated by Laura Matzen and colleagues with the Sandia Matrix Generation Software for a norming study against Raven's Matrizes in 2010. Results of this norming study suggest that the tested set of Sandia Matrix Problems covered the difficulty range observed in the original Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices.

Task Procedure

Participants work on 12 test problems covering 4 levels of matrix difficulty with 3 sublevels each. Each matrix involves a different set of transformations or rule for obtaining the missing piece and are presented in a fixed order. Each problem presents the main 3x3 matrix with each matrix missing its last piece. Participants are asked to select the piece that they think completes the matrix the best out of 8 possible answer choices.

By default, the test is self-paced with a time limit of 2 hours. There is no practice phase.

What it Measures

Matrix Reasoning Tests measure non-verbal inductive reasoning.

Psychological domains

• Inductive Reasoning: Ability to infer underlying general rules
• Non-Verbal Problem Solving: Ability to solve problems devoid of verbal information
• Visuo-Spatial Ability: Ability to perceive and mentally manipulate complex visual designs.

Main Performance Metrics

• Proportion Correct Score: Overall accuracy performance
• Proportion Correct Score per level: accuracy performance per level of difficulty

Psychiatric Conditions

Performance tends to be impaired in patients with the following conditions.

• Dementia
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Schizophrenia