What is a Z-score?
A Z-score measures how far a score is (in standard deviations) from the mean. In short, the larger the Z-score (positive or negative), the rarer the score is.
A familiar example is the IQ test, which is supposed to be normalized at a mean of 100, and standard deviations of around 15~16 points. An IQ of 132 would thus have a z-score of +2, because 132-100 = 32, and 32/16 = 2.
Generally speaking, a 2 (plus or minus) in z-scores is usually a pretty significant difference from the average.
The Z-scores are currently skewed by a lot of anonymous tests, which substantially moves the average to higher reaction times and lower memory spans. We should see some corrections to the average values later on.
A familiar example is the IQ test, which is supposed to be normalized at a mean of 100, and standard deviations of around 15~16 points. An IQ of 132 would thus have a z-score of +2, because 132-100 = 32, and 32/16 = 2.
Generally speaking, a 2 (plus or minus) in z-scores is usually a pretty significant difference from the average.
The Z-scores are currently skewed by a lot of anonymous tests, which substantially moves the average to higher reaction times and lower memory spans. We should see some corrections to the average values later on.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
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Consonant Span: 16.00, 3.96, 304.41, 10.78
Does this make sense? Is it really possible to have such a high z-score on Consonant Span? (This was pulled straight from the data chart on mystats.
Does this make sense? Is it really possible to have such a high z-score on Consonant Span? (This was pulled straight from the data chart on mystats.
argumzio | 3 years ago
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So your z-score is 10.78, which is a crazy number. But if you compare with the average, it's not impossible:
16 - 3.96 = 12.04
12.04 / 10.78 = 1.117
With a standard deviation of 1.117, the z-score would be correct. 1.117 isn't an unreasonable standard deviation.
But I must say, 16 characters on the consonant span is absurdly high. Assuming that 1. you did not develop an efficient strategy, 2. you did not memorize a vast array of combinations such that you are quickly accessing episodic memory on top of fast pattern recognition, 3. you are not cheating: it is possible that you simply have a very large short term memory.
Remember though, that the z-scores are a bit inflated, because many people don't go as far as they can (which pulls down the average). But 16 is very startling, nonetheless.
16 - 3.96 = 12.04
12.04 / 10.78 = 1.117
With a standard deviation of 1.117, the z-score would be correct. 1.117 isn't an unreasonable standard deviation.
But I must say, 16 characters on the consonant span is absurdly high. Assuming that 1. you did not develop an efficient strategy, 2. you did not memorize a vast array of combinations such that you are quickly accessing episodic memory on top of fast pattern recognition, 3. you are not cheating: it is possible that you simply have a very large short term memory.
Remember though, that the z-scores are a bit inflated, because many people don't go as far as they can (which pulls down the average). But 16 is very startling, nonetheless.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
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I know for a fact that I have no "efficient strategy" beyond what I normally do, did not memorize combinations, and am certainly not cheating. But I'm puzzled. How is it that I would get 16 score when I've only reached an eight-consonant span? Is this merely representative of the scoring mechanism? I doubt it. It seems to me to be an error. Then again, I may be sharing my acquired ignorance.
Many thanks (for everything).
Many thanks (for everything).
argumzio | 3 years ago
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argumzio | 3 years ago
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thanks, been wondering what those were about.
the digit span z-scores seem to be bugged btw. the reverse digit span line shows my average as 16.67, z-score 7.06. even though I only get about 9 right without error.
how come?
the digit span z-scores seem to be bugged btw. the reverse digit span line shows my average as 16.67, z-score 7.06. even though I only get about 9 right without error.
how come?
testest | 3 years ago
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It's possible to get a higher average due to the way the span is recorded, although what you see is most likely a problem. I'll have to investigate this.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
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I'd like to add in a me too to this bug.
I've only reached a 7-consonant span, but my average is 9.8 and my z-score is 5.23
This has to be a bug
I've only reached a 7-consonant span, but my average is 9.8 and my z-score is 5.23
This has to be a bug
rwac80 | 3 years ago
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before anyone gets confused as to why I wrote this even though right above my post it says that the z-scores are skewed:
in my case it's MY average that's miscalculated, not the average it's weighted against. the result is probably the same (inflated z-score), but I that I should let you know.
in my case it's MY average that's miscalculated, not the average it's weighted against. the result is probably the same (inflated z-score), but I that I should let you know.
testest | 3 years ago
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