Relation of Cognitive Aptitudes to Success in Foreign Language Training

Abstract

The incremental validity of specific cognitive aptitudes beyond general cognitive ability have been small. This research examined the validity of a specific aptitude test, the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), in the domain of basic foreign language learning. Successful com\letion of training and end-of-training proficiency were measured for 5,673 military students. For all training outcomes, the DLAB contributed significant incremental validity beyond general aptitude (g) and beyond the Armed Services Voca- tional Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a general trainability measure. These findings were discussed in the framework of Cattell's (1963) fluid and crystallized intelligence and Hunter's (1983) findings in regard to the domi- nance of general cognitive ability.