Relating Indices of Knowledge Structure Coherence and Accuracy to Skill-Based 'Performance: Is There Utility in Using a Combination of Indices?

摘要

The authors examined the relative criterion-related validity of knowledge structure coherence and twoaccuracy-based indices (closeness and correlation) as well as the utility of using a combination ofknowledge structure indices in the prediction of skill acquisition and transfer. Findings from anaggregation of 5 independent samples (N = 958) whose participants underwent training on a complexcomputer simulation indicated that coherence and the accuracy-based indices yielded comparablezero-order predictive validities. Support for the incremental validity of using a combination of indiceswas mixed; the most, albeit small, gain came in pairing coherence and closeness when predicting transfer.After controlling for baseline skill, general mental ability, and declarative knowledge, only coherenceexplained a statistically significant amount of unique variance in transfer. Overall, the results suggestedthat the different indices largely overlap in their representation of knowledge organization, but thatcoherence better reflects adaptable aspects of knowledge organization important to skill transfer.