How to solve number series items: Can watching video tutorials increase test scores?

Abstract

Intelligence test scores are significant correlates and predictors of important future outcomes. However, recent research showed that watching a short video tutorial explaining the underlying rules of figural matrices increased figural matrices test scores. This study investigated the effects of video tutorials on test scores for number series, another popular intelligence test task type. For this purpose, a parsimonious illustration model was developed forming the basis of a video tutorial explaining how to solve number series items. In an experimental design, N = 192 teacher-education students were randomly assigned to either the experimental group watching the task-relevant number series video tutorial, a control group watching a task-irrelevant video tutorial, or another control group inspecting number series items on their own. Afterwards, all students worked on number series items. Prior to the experiment, participants completed an intelligence test; grade point average (GPA) served as indicator of prior scholastic achievement. Results showed that the experimental group participants reached higher number series test scores than the students of either control groups (task-irrelevant video tutorial: d = 0.44; inspecting number series items on their own: d = 0.30). Number series correlated substantially and of comparable magnitude in all three groups with intelligence (.56 ≤ r ≤ .63) and GPA (.25 ≤ r ≤ .38). Implications of these results concerning intelligence assessment are discussed.