View Profile

Dr Jens F. Beckmann, Dipl.-Psych., Dr.rer.nat., Dr.rer.nat.habil.

Contact Dr Jens F. Beckmann (email at j.beckmann@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

Jens joined Durham University, School of Education in 2011 from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia where he was Director of the Accelerated Learning Laboratory. Prior to that he worked at the University of Sydney (Australia), Yale University (USA), the University of Bonn and the University of Leipzig (Germany).

He also holds an honorary appointment as Principal Research Fellow at the Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne.

His areas of expertise and his main foci of research have mainly been on the study and the assessment of intellectual abilities. More specifically, he conducts research in three main areas:

Dynamic Testing: Dynamic tests concentrate specifically on intellectual potential instead of the mere registration of what examinees are capable of doing at the given time of testing. He has been working extensively on the development of dynamic assessment procedures (e.g. learning tests).

Complex Problem Solving: His interest here is primarily on knowledge acquisition processes whilst dealing with complex dynamic simulations and their effects on controlling such systems. Research in complex problem solving not only allows studying learning and the acquisition and application of knowledge it can also provide a framework to address issues around instructional design.

Cognitive Flexibility: Cognitive flexibility can broadly be defined as the ability to deal with novelty, adjust to changes, and to break out of routine ways of thinking when necessary. Jens' research in this area is concerned with both conceptualisation (i.e. how to define) and operationalization (i.e. how to measure) of these practically highly relevant facets of intellectual functioning.

Jens welcomes enquiries regarding potential supervision of postgraduate and doctoral research broadly related to the above-mentioned topics.

Research Groups

School of Education

• Individuals and Contexts in Education

Research Interests

• Cognitive Flexibility
• Complex Problem Solving
• Dynamic Testing

Publications

Books: authored

• Wood, R.D., Cogin, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (2009). Managerial Problem Solving: Frameworks, Tools & Techniques. McGraw Hill, Australia.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2001). Zur Validierung des Konstrukts des intellektuellen Veränderungspotentials [On the validation of the construct of intellectual change potential]. Berlin: logos.
• Beckmann, J.F. & Guthke, J. (1999). Psychodiagnostik des schlußfolgernden Denkens [The assessment of reasoning ability]. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
• Guthke, J. Beckmann, J.F. , Stein, H., Vahle, H. & Rittner, S. (1995). Adaptive Computergestützte Intelligenz-Lerntestbatterie (ACIL) [The Adaptive, Computer-Based Learning Test Battery]. Mödlingen: Schuhfried.
• Beckmann, J.F. (1994). Lernen und komplexes Problemlösen [Learning and Complex Problem Solving]. Bonn: Holos.

Books: edited

• Beckmann, J.F. & Herzberg, Y. (2001). Dynamik im Testen. Neuere Befunde und Anwendungen [Dynamic in testing. Recent results and applications]. Landau: VEP.

Books: sections

• Beckmann, J.F. & Schumacher, J (2004). Urteilsbildung und Entscheidung [Judgement and Decision Making]. In Lehrbuch Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie. Strauß, B., Berger, U., von Troschke, J. & Brähler, E. Göttingen: Hogrefe. 403-425.
• Guthke, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (2003). Dynamic Assessment with Diagnostic Programs. In Models of Intelligence. International Perspectives. Sternberg, R.J., Lautrey, J. & Lubart, T.I. Washington, DC: APA. 227-242.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2003). Lerntests [Learning tests]. In Stichwörter der Psychologischen Diagnostik. Kubinger, K.D. & Jager, R.S. Weinheim: PVU. 267–271.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2003). Statusdiagnostik [Status diagnostics]. In Stichwörter der Psychologischen Diagnostik. Kubinger, K.D. & Jager, R.S. Weinheim: PVU. 393–394.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2003). Testing the limits. In Stichwörter der Psychologischen Diagnostik. Kubinger, K.D. & Jager, R.S. Weinheim: PVU. 402–403.
• Guthke, J. Beckmann, J.F. & Seiwald, B. B. (2003). Wie “identisch“ sind Arbeitsgedächtnis und Schlußfolgerndes Denken? [How “identical“ are working memory and reasoning?]. In Psychologie im Kontext der Naturwissenschaften. Krause, W. & Krause, B. Berlin: trafo. 149–159.
• Guthke, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (2001). Intelligenz als "Lernfähigkeit"—Lerntests als Alternative zum herkömmlichen Intelligenztest. [Intelligence as the ability to learn – learning tests as alternative to traditional intelligence measures]. In Perspektiven der Intelligenzforschung. Ein Lehrbuch für Fortgeschrittene. Stern, E. & Guthke, J. Lengerich: Pabst. 137–161.
• Beckmann, J.F. & Freitag, H. (2001). Konstruktvalidierung der Diagnostik intellektueller Lernfähigkeit. [Construct validation of learning ability]. In Dynamik im Testen. Beckmann, J.F. & Herzberg, P.Y. Landau: VEP. 161–171.
• Guthke, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (2000). Learning test concept and dynamic assessment. In Experience of mediated learning: An impact of Feuerstein's theory in education and psychology. Kozulin, A. & Rand, B.Y. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. 175-190.
• Guthke, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (2000). The learning test concept: Application in practice. In Dynamic Assessment: Prevailing models and applications. Lidz, C.S. & Elliott, J. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. 17-69.
• Guthke, J. & Beckmann, J.F. (1996). Wygotskis Postulat von der “Diagnostik der Zone der nächsten Entwicklung“ und dessen Realisierung in der zeitgenössischen Psychodiagnostik [Vygotsky’s postulate of the “zone of proximal development“ and its realisation in contemporary psychological assessment]. In Entwicklung und Lernen aus kulturhistorischer Sicht. Lompscher, J. Marburg: BdWi-Verlag. 270–285.
• Beckmann, J. F. & Guthke, J. (1995). Complex problem solving, intelligence, and learning ability. In Complex problem solving: The European Perspective. Frensch, P.A. & Funke, J. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. 177-200.
• Guthke, J., Beckmann, J.F. & Stein, H. (1995). Recent research evidence on the validity of learning tests. In Advances in cognition and educational practice. European contributions to dynamic assessment. Carlson, J.S. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. 3: 117-143.

Conference papers

• Beckmann, J.F. & Bowman, D.B. (2008), Item development for new measures of cognitive flexibility, 43: International Journal of Psychology, 396.
• Bowman, D. B. & Beckmann, J.F. (2007), Who, what, and where: Person and situation determinants of individual differences in complex reasoning task performance, in Hennig, J., Reuter, M., Montag, C. & Netter, P. eds, 13th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID). Giessen, Germany Göttingen: Hogrefe, 74.
• Beckmann, J.F. , Dörfler, T. & Kramer, M. (2004), Antwortlatenzen in Reasoningtests – abhängig vom Testmedium? [Response latencies in reasoning tests – dependent on test presentation medium?], in Rammsayer, T., Grabianowski, T. & Troche, S. eds, 44. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Psychologie – 100 Jahre Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Psychologie. Gottingen, Lengerich: Pabst, 334.
• Beckmann, N., , Beckmann, J.F., , Elliott, J.G., & Guthke, J. (2004), Feeback gut für jedermann? – Zu differentiellen Effekten von Feedback in Leistungssituationen. [Feedback good for everyone? – On differential effects of feedback in performance situations], in Rammsayer, T., Grabianowski, S. & Troche, S. eds, 44. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Psychologie – 100 Jahre Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Psychologie. Göttingen Lengerich: Pabst, 253.
• Dörfler, T. & Beckmann, J.F. (2003), Kognitiver Aufwand oder mentale Effizienz - Zur Bedeutung von Antwortlatenzen in computerisierten Leistungstests [Cognitive Effort or mental efficiency – On the relevance of response latencies in computerised assessments], 24: Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie. 205.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2001), Computer-aided diagnostic programs: New learning test variants and new strategies for validation of intelligence and learning tests, 9th European Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction. Aachen: Mainz, 272.
• Seiwald, B.B. Hegel, T. Beckmann, J.F. & Guthke, J. (2001), Differentialpsychologische Analysen zum Verhältnis von (figuralem) Arbeitsgedächtnis und Reasoning. [Differential analyses of the relationship between figural working mamory and reasoning], in Seiwald, B.B., Guthke, J., Petermann, H. Beckmann, J.F. & Roth, M. eds, 6. Arbeitstagung der Fachgruppe für Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie. Leipzig: Universitätsverlag, 139.

Journal papers: academic

• Beckmann, N. , Beckmann, J.F., Minbashian, A. & Birney, D. P. (2013). In the heat of the moment: On the effect of state neuroticism on task performance. Personality and Individual Differences 54: 447-452
• Birney, D.P., Bowman, D.B., Beckmann, J.F. & Seah, Y.Z. (2012). Assessment of processing capacity: Reasoning in Latin Square tasks in a population of managers. European Journal of Psychological Assessment 28(3): 216-226.
• Birney, D.P., Beckmann, J.F. & Wood, R.E. (2012). Precursors to the development of flexible expertise: Metacognitive self-evaluations as antecedences and consequences in adult learning. Learning and Individual Differences 22(5): 563-574.
• Beckmann, J.F. & Birney, D.P. (2012). What happens before and after it happens: Antecedences and consequences of adult learning. Learning and Individual Differences 22(5): 561-562.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2010). Taming a beast of burden - On some issues with the conceptualisation and operationalisation of cognitive load. Learning and Instruction 20(3): 250-264.
• Goode, N. & Beckmann, J.F. (2010). You need to know: There is a causal relationship between structural knowledge and control performance in complex problem solving tasks. Intelligence 38(3): 345-352.
• Beckmann, N., Beckmann, J.F. & Elliott, J.G. (2009). Self-confidence and performance goal orientation interactively predict performance in a reasoning test with accuracy feedback. Learning and Individual Differences 19(2): 277-282.
• Wood, R.E., Beckmann, J.F. & Birney, D.P. (2009). Simulations, learning and real world capabilities. Education + Training 51(5/6): 491-510.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2006). Superiority: always and everywhere? - On some misconceptions in the validation of dynamic testing. Educational and Child Psychology 23(3): 35-49.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2005). As time goes by: In search of the meaning of response latencies in performance tests. Psychology Science 47(2): 199.
• Beckmann, J.F. & Beckmann, N. (2005). Effects of feedback on performance and response latencies in un-timed reasoning tests. Psychology Science 47(2): 262-278.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2005). Oh, there is one more thing. Psychology Science 47(2): 294-295.
• Neubauer, A.C., Grabner, R.H., Freudenthaler, H.H., Beckmann, J.F. & Guthke, J. (2004). Intelligence and individual differences in becoming neurally efficient. Acta Psychologica 116: 55-74.
• Guthke, J., Beckmann, J.F. & Wiedl, K. H. (2003). Dynamik im Dynamischen Testen [Dynamics in dynamic testing]. Psychologische Rundschau 54: 225–232.
• Guthke, J. Beckmann, J.F. & Schmid, G. (2002). Ist an der Graphologie doch etwas dran? Untersuchungen zur Übereinstimmung von Graphologenurteil und psychometrischen Persönlichkeitstests [Is graphology of value after all? On the relationship between graphological judgment and psychometric personality tests]. Zeitschrift für Personalpsychologie 1: 203–208.
• Schreiber, M. Schneider, R. Schweizer, A. Beckmann, J.F. & Baltissen, R. (2000). Diagnostische Programme in der Demenzfrüherkennung – Der Adaptive Figurenfolgen-Lerntest (ADAFI) [Diagnostic programs in the early detection of dementia – the Adaptive Figure Series Learning Test. Zeitschrift für Gerontopsychologie und -psychiatrie 2/3 : 16–29.
• Beckmann, J.F. (2000). Differentielle Latenzzeiteffekte bei der Bearbeitung von Reasoning-Items [Differential effects on latencies in solving reasoning items]. Diagnostica 3 : 124–129.
• Beckmann, J.F. & Dobat, H. (2000). Zur Validierung der Diagnostik intellektueller Lernfähigkeit [On validating the diagnostics of intellectual learning ability]. Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie 14 : 97–105.
• Guthke, J., Beckmann, J. F. & Dobat, H. (1997). Dynamic testing—problems, uses, trends and evidence of validity. Educational and Child Psychology 14: 17-32.