Research Topics

Below are links to some examples of recent research articles of general interest.

Theatre Professionals

Theatre artists as a whole scored higher than our general testing population on many of our aptitude tests. Read more.

Musical Abilities

We test three auditory abilities: Tonal Memory, Pitch Discrimination, and Rhythm Memory. We did a study that showed that scores on these tests are indeed high for musicians, but also for people in a range of other occupations. Read more.

Auditory Aptitudes

Auditory aptitudes correlate with other aptitude measures. Read more.

A Survey of Client Satisfaction

Past examinees were asked about their satisfaction with our aptitude testing. Read more.

Long-term Stability of Pitch Discrimination and Rhythm Memory

For a number of years, we have been studying the long-term stability of our tests. In 2013, David Schroeder carried out a study on Pitch Discrimination and Rhythm Memory and reported his findings in Statistical Bulletin 2013-12, Long-Term Stability for Pitch Discrimination and Rhythm Memory. Read more.

Long-term Stability of English Vocabulary

We also studied the long-term stability of English Vocabulary. Read more.

Heritability of Aptitudes

Studies of twins suggest a genetic component to aptitudes. Read more.

Relationships between Aptitudes and Brain Areas

The Foundation’s founder and namesake, Johnson O’Connor, had an abiding interest in the biological substrate of individual differences in aptitudes. Read more.

Two-dimensional Occupational Plots

Two-dimensional occupational plots show simultaneously the mean performance of various occupational groups on two of our standard battery tests. Read more.

Occupational Plot for Writers

Aptitude test scores for examinees in writing occupations. Read more.

A Longitudinal Study of Engineering Students

Students were tested when they began their studies at the University of Texas. Read more.

Dissemination of Research 2014

As part of the Research Department's mission to communicate our research findings to the public, we continue to make presentations at professional conferences, write articles published in scholarly journals, and collaborate with other researchers. Read more.

Validation: Occupational Plots

Ideaphoria scores and occupations. Read more.

Memory for Design: Not Just g

Memory for Design shows many relationships with vocational and educational criteria that cannot be accounted for by the general intelligence factor, g. Read more.

The Flynn Effect as a Rise in Spatial Ability

Research at Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation suggests that spatial ability is the primary explanation for the Flynn effect. Read more.