The term diagrammatic reasoning is often used
interchangeably with abstract reasoning. Some of the companies who
produce psychometric tests refer to abstract reasoning tests as
diagrammatic reasoning tests. This is presumably because abstract
tests use diagrams or pictures rather than words or numbers. If
you are told that you need to sit a diagrammatic reasoning test
then it may be just another name for an abstract reasoning test.
Or it may not.
If you are applying for a job in information technology then you
may be faced with questions which test your abstract reasoning
ability in a very specific way. These are referred to on this web
site as diagrammatic reasoning tests to differentiate them from
'normal' abstract reasoning tests.
These diagrammatic reasoning tests measure your ability to infer a
set of rules from a flowchart or similar diagram and then to apply
those rules to new situation. These questions are often found in
tests aimed at selecting information technology specialists who
need to work through complex problems in an analytical way.
Example Questions
1) The functions 'M' and 'S' transform the input shapes in a
certain way. You need to use the diagram to determine what effect
each of these functions has. Apply them to the input shape in the
question to arrive at the correct output.
Another type of question that appears in these tests measures
your ability to follow a set of logical instructions. In the next
example, the operators are defined in the first diagram. Each
operator acts on the figure that it is attached to. The sequence
of operations is from top to bottom. Use this information to
answer the questions.
In the street plan above, for example, Shakespeare Road is
one-way between Cole Street and Trenchtown Road. This means that
if you were driving south on Trenchtown Road you could not turn
right into Shakespeare Street.
2) Which figure results from the operations shown?
3) Which figure results from the operations shown?
Answers
- B - Function 'M' inverts color (black > white and white >
black). Function 'S' rotates shape anticlockwise through 90
degrees.
- B - work from top to bottom, making a note of the effect of
each operator at each stage.
- D - Remember some of the operations involve changing the
relative position of figures.
Remember, you are unlikely to be asked questions if this type
unless the job calls for a high level of analytical abstract
reasoning skills. These types of question are usually restricted
to technical jobs in information technology but may also be used
to select for technical jobs in the finance industry.
If the employer has made any mention of diagrammatic reasoning
then you should ask them to clarify exactly what they mean, and if
possible to supply some example questions.
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