Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The General Ability Measure for Adults

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Nonverbal Assessment

Abstract

The General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA; Naglieri and Bardos in General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA). National Computer Systems, Minneapolis, 1997) is accessible to persons with a wide variety of backgrounds; it is a nonverbal test that is free of the confounding characteristics of expressive language skills and exposure to a formal English-speaking academic environment. Naglieri and Bardos (1997) stated that the GAMA “evaluates an individual’s overall general ability with items that require the application of reasoning and logic to solve problems that exclusively use abstract designs and shapes” (p. 1). The GAMA does not follow a particular theoretical model but rather attempts to offer an alternative to the measure of general ability after recognizing many inherent problems with tests of general ability that use subtests that have been used as measures of nonverbal ability despite the fact that their administration directions include lengthy and wordy verbal directions (see for example the Wechsler series of tests). It offers an efficient research supported means to estimate a person’s overall cognitive ability. As of the writing of this chapter, the GAMA is undergoing a national re-standardization. In addition to a more recent normative sample, the GAMA-2 will address much of the feedback the GAMA authors received from users in the field.

For a continuous update on research studies regarding the GAMA and the GAMA-2 and to obtain a training CD, the reader is encouraged to contact the author at: abardos@unco.edu.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council of Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: AERA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardos, A. N. (1995). Basic achievement skills inventory—survey. Bloomington MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardos, A. N., Marlatt, H., Johnson, K., & Reva, K. (2007). A cross-cultural investigation of the General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA) in Mexico. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brazdau, O., & Mihai, C. (2011). The consciousness quotient: A new predictor of the students academic performance. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 11, 245–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, A. S., Bardos, A., & Woodward, K. (2006). Concurrent validity of the general ability measure for adults (GAMA) with sudden-onset neurological impairment. The International Journal of Neuroscience, 116, 1215–1221. doi:10.1080/00207450500516511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dieti, E., & Bardos, A.N. (2012). Assessment of intelligence in Greece using the general ability measure for adults: Concurrent validity with the WAIS. In Paper presented at the 8th International Test Commission Conference, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donders, J. (1999). Psychometric intelligence in patients with traumatic brain injury: Utility of a new screening measure. Archives of Physical Medical Rehabilitation, 80, 346–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Festa, T., & Bardos, A. (2000). GAMA: Relationship to academic achievement. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 15(8), 695–696. doi:10.1016/S0887-6177(00)800839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Festa, T., Sutton, L., Crawford, N., & Bardos, A. (1999). Measuring the cognitive ability of nursing home residents on the GAMA. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 14(8), 664. doi:10.1016/S0887-6177(99)80086-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerits, L., Derksen, J. J. L., & Verbruggen, A. B. (2004). Emotional intelligence and adaptive success of nurses caring for people with mental retardation and severe behavior problems. Mental Retardation, 42(2), 106–121. 10.1352/00476765(2004)42<106:EIAASO>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iliescu, D., & Livinţi, R. (2008). GAMA—General Ability Measure for Adults: Manual tehnicsi interpretativ. Cluj- Napoca: Odiseea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ispas, D., Lliescu, D., Llie, A., & Johnson, R. (2010). Examining the criterion related validity of the general ability measure for adults: A two sample investigation. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 18(2), 226–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (1990). K-BIT (Kaufman brief intelligence test) manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (2004). Kaufman brief intelligence test. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassiter, K., Maher, C. Matthews, T., Bell, N. (2000). The general ability measure for adults: A measure of Gf?. In Paper presented at the 108th annual convention of the American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leverett, P., Matthews, D., Lassiter, K., & Bell, N. (2001). Validity comparison of the general ability measure for adults with the Wonderlic personnel test. North American Journal of Psychology, 3(1), 173–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, T. A., Donders, J., & Thompson, E. (2000). Potential of and problems with new measures of psychometric intelligence after traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 45(4), 402–408. doi:10.1037/0090-5550.45.4.402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naglieri, J. A., & Bardos, A. N. (1997). General ability measure for adults (GAMA). Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogard, E., & Karr, C. (1998). Psychological testing and concurrent validity study of probation & parole staff for the department of juvenile and adult community justice. State of Oregon: Multnomah County.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, (2014). Pearson clinical assessment Q-global user guide. USA: Person Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrogiannis, K., Bardos, A. N., & Politikos, N. (1999). A cross cultural investigation of the general ability measure for adults (GAMA) in Greece. In: Paper presented at the International Conference of Test Adaptation, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, E. L., Byrd, D., Mindt, M. R., Rausch, W. J., & Morgello, S. (2008). Understanding the neuropsychological profile of hiv+participants with low literacy: Role of the general ability measure for adults (Gama). The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 22(6), 1018–1034. doi:10.1080/13854040701750883

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Spyridaki, E. C., Simos, P., Avgoustinaki, P. D., Dermitzaki, E., Venihaki, M., Bardos, A. N., et al. (2014). The association between obesity and fluid intelligence impairment is mediated by chronic low-grade inflammation. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(10), 1724–1734. doi:10.1017/S0007114514002207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Commerce. (1992, November). 1990 census of population, general population characteristics, United States (1 990 CP- 1 - 1). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Commerce. (1994, January). 1990 census of population, education in the United States (1 990 CP-3-4). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1981). WAIS-R (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised) manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1997). WAIS-III (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition) manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI; Wechsler, 1999). Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2008). WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition) administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2011). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011). Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, G. S., & Robertson, G. (2004). Wide range achievement test (WRAT4). Bloomington, MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wonderlic Personnel Test and Scholastic Level Exam user’s manual. (1992). Libertyville, IL: Wonderlic Personnel Test, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zachary, R. A. (1991). Shipley Institute of Living Scale revised manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, USA

    Amber Stieg Green

  2. Division of School Psychology, University of Northern Colorado, McKee Hall 289 Campus, Box 131, Greeley, CO, 80639-0001, USA

    Achilles Bardos

  3. Athens, Greece

    Maris Doropoulou

Authors
  1. Amber Stieg Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Achilles Bardos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maris Doropoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amber Stieg Green .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

    R. Steve McCallum

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stieg Green, A., Bardos, A., Doropoulou, M. (2017). The General Ability Measure for Adults. In: McCallum, R. (eds) Handbook of Nonverbal Assessment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50604-3_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation