Which of the following is an example of a state factor?

• A. Poor attention
• B. High IQ
• C. Excellent memory
• D. Adequate sleep

Answer: (A)

State factors are temporary conditions that influence how someone functions at the moment of assessment. They can change with each session and aren’t about lasting abilities. Poor attention shows the person’s current cognitive state—how well they’re focusing right now—which can be affected by fatigue, distractions, stress, or illness. In contrast, high IQ and excellent memory are stable, enduring abilities that don’t fluctuate as a moment-to-moment state. Adequate sleep describes a condition that can influence performance, but the example here highlights a fluctuating mental state rather than a fixed capacity, making poor attention the clearest state factor.