Abstract:

General Mental Ability (GMA) is the most widely used predictor in personnel selection. Previous studies have confirmed that GMA not only directly affect the work knowledge and skills acquisition, but also indirectly affect individual job performance through learning and problem solving. Additionally, GMA has been confirmed to be the best predictor of job performance. Future research on the nature of GMA and the psychological mechanism of GMA predicting performance should draw lessons from cognitive neuroscience paradigm besides the classical testing theory; explore the brain cognitive mechanism of GMA predicting job performance; and collect further evidence of GMA’s predictive validity and generalized predictive validity in China context.

Key words: General Mental Ability, job performance, psychological mechanism