Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence and the Berlin Model of Intelligence Structure (BIS)

Assessment of intelligence is often based on fluid (gf) and crystallized intelligence (gc), and – in the German-speaking countries – the Berlin Model of Intelligence Structure (BIS). As yet, however, the two approaches have not been systematically related to each other. The present study therefore aims to identify possible relationships between the approaches. We hypothesize that gf is related to “processing capacity” and “memory” in the BIS, whereas gc is related to “fluency” and “knowledge” and, to a lesser degree, to “processing capacity.” We also assume “processing speed” to be related to both gf and gc. All components of the BIS that are relevant to the present study were measured by means of the BIS-r-DGP test, which, together with “knowledge” scales, was administered to 9,520 persons in the context of personnel selection. The following results were obtained: First, the BIS was replicated by factor analysis of the BIS-r-DGP test. Second, “knowledge” was shown to form an additional component. Third, gf and gc emerged clearly from hierarchical factor analysis. Finally, with the exception of the relation of “fluency” to gc, all hypotheses were confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis.