The term intelligence is not synonymous with terms like knowledge or wisdom. Rather, intelligence is best defined as one’s ability to learn and apply information, whereas knowledge and wisdom refer to what an individual has already been taught.
The Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ) assesses the innate cognitive abilities that are most utilized in attaining, developing, and applying athletic skills, strategies, and tactics. The AIQ provides quantifiable data regarding the athlete’s sport-performance specific intellectual abilities, just as the 40 yard dash quantifies speed and the number of squat reps quantifies strength.
Further, the AIQ will exceed current intelligence tests such as the Wonderlic by providing more in-depth and sport-specific analysis while remaining as efficient.
The Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ) assesses the innate cognitive abilities that are most utilized in attaining, developing, and applying athletic skills, strategies, and tactics. The AIQ provides quantifiable data regarding the athlete’s sport-performance specific intellectual abilities, just as the 40 yard dash quantifies speed and the number of squat reps quantifies strength.
Further, the AIQ will exceed current intelligence tests such as the Wonderlic by providing more in-depth and sport-specific analysis while remaining as efficient.
The AIQ is based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory which has been widely investigated and applied in various fields to measure true intelligence (i.e., the ability to learn and apply information). Moreover, neurocognitive research has provided additional support for the structure of CHC theory. Perhaps most notably, the CHC theory has served as a foundation for significant revisions made to the most frequently used intelligence tests and academic achievement tests. Previous research has established correlations between specific CHC abilities and occupational success in a wide range of occupations (e.g., architect, pilot, lawyer, accountant, etc). To date, however, the CHC theory has not been applied to the measurement of mental abilities considered essential in elite athletes. One of the benefits of applying this theory to the domain of sports is that it provides a standard language that researchers, theorists, coaches, and athletes can use to discuss the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of athletes. In addition, the CHC theory serves as an evidence based framework for quantifying a professional’s specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses. For example, CHC application can predict which individuals are more likely to be successful pilots based on their strong visual spatial processing skills.
Full Scale Score (FS-AIQ)- The Full Scale AIQ (FS-AIQ) is based on a combination of all nine subtest scores and is considered the best overall estimate of intellectual functioning pertinent to professional athletics. An athlete with a high Full Scale score has strong mental abilities that enable him to have a greater sense of the football field, to learn and remember plays more efficiently, and to react more quickly than athletes with lower Full Scale Scores.
Visual Memory and Retrieval (VMR) - The Visual Memory Retrieval factor assesses a person’s ability to effectively store visual information into long-term memory and then retrieve that information later through association. Athletes who score high on this factor will be more efficient at digesting the playbook and its in-season variations as well as make in-game adjustments. For example, Visual Memory and Retrieval is when an offensive lineman recognizes the defensive play about to be executed from studying formation photographs.
Visual Processing Speed (VPS) -The Visual Processing Speed factor is designed to measure an athlete’s speed and accuracy of visual perception and organization, simultaneous processing, and spatial scanning. Ultimately, these tasks require athletes to mentally organize visual information rapidly, under time constraint. An example of Visual Spatial Processing is when an athlete quickly scans a visual field and identifies the shortest route from a starting point to an ending point. In football, this ability would be important for a linebacker who must determine the best route when pursuing and tackling the ball carrier.
Reaction Time (RT) - The Reaction Time factor is designed to measure the speed with which individuals can respond to the presentation of a stimulus. It also assesses an athlete’s ability to make snap judgments to detect differences or compare information. These tasks require athletes to sustain attention, concentrate, and exert mental control. An example of Reaction Time is when an athlete sees an opportunity for a very brief period of time and decides whether to act on what they saw. In football, this ability would be important for a defensive back who witnesses subtle cues such as the opposing wide receiver reacting to a pass thrown their way. The quicker the defensive back correctly identifies, anticipates, and adjusts to the wide receiver initiating a catch the more effective the defensive back would be in blocking or intercepting the pass.
Full Scale Score (FS-AIQ)- The Full Scale AIQ (FS-AIQ) is based on a combination of all nine subtest scores and is considered the best overall estimate of intellectual functioning pertinent to professional athletics. An athlete with a high Full Scale score has strong mental abilities that enable him to have a greater sense of the football field, to learn and remember plays more efficiently, and to react more quickly than athletes with lower Full Scale Scores.
Visual Memory and Retrieval (VMR) - The Visual Memory Retrieval factor assesses a person’s ability to effectively store visual information into long-term memory and then retrieve that information later through association. Athletes who score high on this factor will be more efficient at digesting the playbook and its in-season variations as well as make in-game adjustments. For example, Visual Memory and Retrieval is when an offensive lineman recognizes the defensive play about to be executed from studying formation photographs.
Visual Processing Speed (VPS) -The Visual Processing Speed factor is designed to measure an athlete’s speed and accuracy of visual perception and organization, simultaneous processing, and spatial scanning. Ultimately, these tasks require athletes to mentally organize visual information rapidly, under time constraint. An example of Visual Spatial Processing is when an athlete quickly scans a visual field and identifies the shortest route from a starting point to an ending point. In football, this ability would be important for a linebacker who must determine the best route when pursuing and tackling the ball carrier.
Reaction Time (RT) - The Reaction Time factor is designed to measure the speed with which individuals can respond to the presentation of a stimulus. It also assesses an athlete’s ability to make snap judgments to detect differences or compare information. These tasks require athletes to sustain attention, concentrate, and exert mental control. An example of Reaction Time is when an athlete sees an opportunity for a very brief period of time and decides whether to act on what they saw. In football, this ability would be important for a defensive back who witnesses subtle cues such as the opposing wide receiver reacting to a pass thrown their way. The quicker the defensive back correctly identifies, anticipates, and adjusts to the wide receiver initiating a catch the more effective the defensive back would be in blocking or intercepting the pass.