Despite widespread computer training, many individuals still struggle with basic computer tasks. This study suggests that cognitive abilities, specifically fluid intelligence, are a stronger predictor of computer skill than the amount of training received. The research indicates that inherent intelligence plays a more crucial role in computer literacy than previously believed, challenging the focus on simply providing more training.
Dedre Gentner is a professor of psychology and cognitive science at Northwestern University. Her research interests include learning and thinking, analogy, similarity and metaphor, concepts and conceptual structure, language and cognition, and language acquisition.
