Module 29 & 30

Intelligence

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Psychometric Approach: Measurement (metric) of Individual differences in behaviors and abilities.

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Is Intelligence one Ability or several?

Spearman’s General Ability Theory Performance depends on general ability (g) and alsoon specific abilities (s).

- g for “general ability” - s for “specific abilities”.

Thurstone argues that intelligence consists of seven “primary mental abilities,” each a relatively independent.

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Despite Thurstone’s findings that there are clusters of abilities, studies find that the seven abilities are positively correlated.

Ability in one area tends to be predictive of abilities in other areas! Perhaps there is g!

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Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences.Different ways of being Intelligent- Language- Music- Logic and Mathematics- Spatial reasoning- Body movement - self-control and self understanding-sensitivity to other people- ecological

Savant SyndromeDescribes a rare phenomenon in which a person with a severe mental handicap displays genius-like ability in a narrow field or area.

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The most common forms involve mathematical calculations, memory feats, artistic abilities, and musical abilities.

In Most People these Intelligences are Positively Correlated

Gardner argues that most people can develop competence in all eight of these intelligences.

Encouraged elementary and secondary education to address all types of intelligences.

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Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory3 aspects of Intelligence1) Analytical (academic problem-solving)

- learning necessary information- planning how to solve a problem- combing knowledge and plans

2) Creative Situations- reacting adaptively to novel situations

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3) Practical Intelligencerelating intelligence to the world- adapting the world - adapting our thinking

*captures the idea that being smart in differentSettings means different things.

E.g., “Street Smart” vs. “Book smart”

Intelligence and CreativityCreative solutions are both Novel (new) and valuable (serve a purpose).

Five components of Creativity:

• Expertise

• Imagination – divergent thinking

• Venturesome personality

• Intrinsic Motivation

• Creative Environment

Forest video (3.19)

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being in tune with one’s emotions and the emotions of others can be considered an aspect of intelligence

 

Emotional Intelligence

Aspects of emotional intelligence perceiving emotion understanding emotion managing emotions using emotions

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Intelligence Tests

Standardized tests: - given in a consistent manner- known norms for interpreting the test.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)Score adjusted for age.

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Binet-Simon Test - developed in 1904 in France.-standardized for different age groups.-predicts performance in school.

History of Intelligence Tests

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Stanford-Binet Test (Terman,1920’s)English-American version of Binet-Simon

Progressive - begin below age level and workto harder problems.

Average IQ = 100 St Div ~15

Sub-scores - Knowledge, Abstract spatial reasoning, Short Term Memory

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Intellectual Disability - 2 Standard deviations below the mean (IQ = < 30) and limited adaptive behavior in• conceptual skills (language, time, money, etc.)•social skills – ability to obey laws, social norms and avoid victimization.• practical skills – daily personal care, occupational skills

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Wechsler TestsWAIS - Adult Test WISC - Children (up to 16)Verbal and Performance Sub-scalesSix Sub-scales each Results provide profile of scores.

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Graduate Records Exam (GRE)- predicts performance in Graduate School(verbal and quantitative sub-scales)

Other profession school admissions tools.- MCAT - Medical school- LSAT - Law school

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ReliabilityTest-retest Reliability - very high

Does this mean it is a good test?

ValidityHow well does it measure what it is supposed to?

Predictive Validity

The Flynn EffectOn average, IQ is increasing by 3 per cent per decade. The effect is so strong that it implies that half of children in 1932, if given today’s tests, would score under 80 – the threshold for mental retardation.

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Tests involving abstract generalizations have increased the most.

Performance on tests involving memory, vocabulary, and general knowledge have hardly budged.

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Marks (2010) found evidence for unequal improvements across the entire IQ spectrum: the greatest effects of increased literacy rates were on those in the lower half of the IQ distribution.

Flynn Effect – periodic restandarizations of IQ tests result in two people with same ability being or not being classified as disabled depending on when they were tested.

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Explanations included: • improved nutrition,

• a trend towards smaller families

• better education

• greater environmental stimulation

• heterosis (Hybrid Vigor)

• familiarity with

multiple-choice

questions 

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Aging and Intelligence

Cross Sectional Studies (comparing age groups) show decline.

Longitudinal studies (follow individual through life span) show more stability.

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Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence

Fluid – speedy reasoning, ability to see novel solutions and think abstractly

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Crystallized - accumulated knowledge, experience and wisdom.