Cited by 875Cognitive Abilities and TestingDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

Why IQ is not a covariate in cognitive studies of neurodevelopmental disorders

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DENNIS, MAUREEN, FRANCIS, DAVID J., CIRINO, PAUL T., SCHACHAR, RUSSELL, BARNES, MARCIA A., FLETCHER, JACK M.·2009·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Abstract

IQ scores are volatile indices of global functional outcome, the final common path of an individual’s genes, biology, cognition, education, and experiences. In studying neurocognitive outcomes in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, it is commonly assumed that IQ can and should be partialed out of statistical relations or used as a covariate for specific measures of cognitive outcome. We propose that it is misguided and generally unjustified to attempt to control for IQ differences by matching procedures or, more commonly, by using IQ scores as covariates. We offer logical, statistical, and methodological arguments, with examples from three neurodevelopmental disorders (spina bifida meningomyelocele, learning disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that: (1) a historical reification of general intelligence, g , as a causal construct that measures aptitude and potential rather than achievement and performance has fostered the idea that IQ has special status and that in studying neurocognitive function in neurodevelopmental disorders; (2) IQ does not meet the requirements for a covariate; and (3) using IQ as a matching variable or covariate has produced overcorrected, anomalous, and counterintuitive findings about neurocognitive function. ( JINS , 2009, 15 , 331–343.)

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Crossref · 10.1017/s1355617709090481

Cites

108 of 108 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • There is substantial evidence of a significant relationship between general intelligence and performance-based EF measures.

    “There is substantial evidence of a significant relationship between general intelligence and performance-based EF measures (Brydges, Reid, Fox, & Anderson, 2012;Dennis et al., 2009;Duggan & Garcia-Barrera, 2015;Engelhardt et al., 2016).”

    From Assessment of executive function in ADHD adolescents: contribution of performance tests and rating scales (2018) · cites this paper as Dennis et al., 2009

    In “IQ and ADHD” (page unavailable), the paper says correlations between IQ and executive function were not significant in the ADHD-family evidence it discusses. That is contrary to citing it as evidence of a significant relationship, although the paper’s statement is specific to that setting rather than all performance-based EF measures. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • IQ was not included as a covariate because of statistical, methodological, and conceptual arguments against covarying IQ when studying cognitive processes in ADHD.

    “IQ was not included as a covariate based on compelling statistical, methodological, and conceptual rationale against covarying IQ when investigating cognitive processes in ADHD (Dennis et al., 2009; Kofler et al., 2016).”
  • ADHD has been significantly associated with both EF and IQ deficits.

    “ADHD has been significantly associated with both EF and IQ deficits (Dennis et al., 2009;Duggan & Garcia-Barrera, 2015).”
  • Replicated evidence supports the view that conditions such as ASD and ADHD are extreme ends along natural continuums of characteristics that are normally distributed across the general population.

    “replicated evidence supports the view that conditions such as ASD168,169 and ADHD170 are extreme ends along natural continuums of characteristics that are normally distributed across the general population.”

    From Executive function deficits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [170]

    Citation 170 is attached to ADHD. The paper’s “IQ and ADHD” section discusses IQ differences and executive-function deficits, but does not say that ADHD lies at the extreme of normally distributed traits in the general population. Searches for a continuum, an extreme end, and normal distribution did not find that claim in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Only age was used as a covariate in cognitive analyses because IQ and sex are inherently confounded with ASD and ADHD and could not be separated from disorder effects.

    “If differences were detected, only age was implemented as a covariate in further analyses on cognitive data, as both IQ and sex are inherently confounded with ASD and ADHD, and therefore could not be separated from the effects of the disorders.37”

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Campbell DT Erlebacher AE 1970 How regression artifacts in quasi-experimental evaluations can mistakenly make compensatory education look harmful Hellmuth J Disadvantaged child: Vol. 3. Compensatory education: A national debate 185 210 New York Brunner/Mazel
  2. Craik FIM Bialystok E 2006 Lifespan cognition: Mechanisms of change New York Oxford University Press
  3. Goddard HH 1917 Mental tests and immigrants Journal of Delinquency 2 243 277
  4. Porteus SD 1917 Mental tests with delinquents and aboriginal children Psychological Review 24 32 41
  5. Wechsler D 1991 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition San Antonio, TX Psychological Corporation
  6. Wolf TH 1973 Alfred Binet Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press

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Authors
DENNIS, M., FRANCIS, D. J., CIRINO, P. T., SCHACHAR, R., BARNES, M. A., & FLETCHER, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Hospital for Sick Children (CA)
  • University of Houston (US)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
DENNIS, MAUREEN
Venue
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Published
2009-05
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pages
331-343
ISSN
  • 1355-6177 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7661
OpenAlex
W2008850124
Cited by
875
References
108
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 61 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 69 · 2014: 70 · 2013: 65 · 2012: 54
FWCI
6.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P01HD035946, P01 HD 35946, P50HD052117, P01 HD35946-06)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords
neurodevelopmental disorders, general intelligence, matching procedure, neurocognitive function, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, overcorrection, cognitive outcomes
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Intelligence, Learning Disabilities, Spina Bifida Cystica

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