Limits of cognitive adjustability
Limits of Cognitive Adjustability
This page explains which aspects of cognition can be adjusted for and which represent intrinsic capacity, and why confusing the two leads to error.
Adjustment can operate on how cognitive ability is accessed and expressed, but not on whether cognitive ability exists. This distinction is central to valid assessment.
Non-adjustable domains: core capacity
Certain cognitive domains reflect intrinsic reasoning ability, abstraction, and conceptual understanding. Where such capacity is absent, it cannot be created through adjustment.
Adjustment cannot manufacture reasoning depth, judgement, or conceptual integration where these are fundamentally limited.
Adjustable domains: access and expression
Other domains primarily affect how cognitive capacity is expressed under particular conditions. These include:
working memory load
processing speed
sensory and environmental demands
format of response or communication
Adjustments that reduce load or modify format do not increase ability. They remove barriers to accessing existing capacity.
Why this distinction matters
Failure to distinguish between capacity and access leads to two types of error:
assuming that all limitations are fixed and intrinsic
assuming that all limitations can be overcome through effort or strategy
Uneven cognitive profiles require a structural distinction between what can and cannot be adjusted.
Recognising this protects both decision integrity and fairness.
Related pages
Uneven Cognitive Profiles and Assessment Validity
Cognitive Capacity, Expression, and Compensability
