The capacity measured by tasks emphasizing novel reasoning rather than acquired factual knowledge. Statistical overlap with executive-test performance does not by itself establish a unique causal direction.
Proposed abilities involved in understanding and using information about people and social situations. Competing definitions emphasize social understanding, knowledge, memory, effective behavior or self-perceived skill; measures of these are not automatically interchangeable indicators of one factor.
A 21-item self-report instrument developed with dimensions labeled social information processing, social skills and social awareness. Its internal structure is evidence about this operationalization; it does not by itself settle the organization of all social abilities.
Sensitivity to relevant social cues and consequences. Its operational meaning depends on the instrument; a factor with this label in a self-report scale is not automatically identical to a performance ability.
Behaviors supporting effective interaction in a specified context. Typical real-world behavior, maximal ability and self-perceived competence are related but distinct measurement targets.
Knowledge concerning people, relationships or conventions. Cultural and contextual specificity can affect what a test treats as an appropriate response.
Memory for socially relevant information. A distinct label does not establish a separate memory mechanism; social and nonsocial tasks must be compared while controlling method and general memory demands.
Interpreting socially relevant information such as intentions or implications of behavior. Performance depends on the information available, the scoring criterion and potentially general verbal or memory abilities.
