2- Ability and Intelligence

Question 1

Individual differences definition

Answer 1

All of the ways in which people differ from one another, especially psychological differences. Included are all differences in personality and intelligence. (Oxford Dictionary of Psychology, 2006)

Question 2

Performance factors

Answer 2

• Intelligence
• Emotional intelligence
• Personality
• Other individual differences

Question 3

Structural models of general intelligence

Answer 3

• Spearman: hierarchical model of general intelligence
• Thurstone: Primary mental abilities

Question 4

Systems Models of intelligence

Answer 4

• Gardner’s Multiple intelligences
• Sternberg’s Triarchic theory of intelligence
• Emotional intelligence

Question 5

What does GMA stand for?

Answer 5

'’General mental ability’’ or ‘‘general cognitive ability’’

Question 6

GMA definition

Answer 6

a very general mental
capability that … involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience” (Gottfredson, 1997, p. 13)

Question 7

The idea of GMA

Answer 7

The “g factor” underlies all specific cognitive abilities
such as: verbal ability, numerical ability, spatial ability,
problem solving etc.

Question 8

How is GMA measured?

Answer 8

Measured via any test batteries of specific cog. abilities.

Question 9

Spearman’s ‘‘G’’- 1904 idea

Answer 9

• One GMA factor underlies specific cognitive
  abilities
• One GMA factor can explain the correlations among
  different specific cognitive abilities
• E.g. if you get a high score on verbal ability you are
  also likely to get a high score on numeric ability

Question 10

Conceptual definition

Answer 10

Is about saying what we mean

Question 11

Operationalization

Answer 11

Is about saying how we will measure it

Question 12

First statistical test of human intelligence

Answer 12

Binet-Simon Test

Question 13

Standardised conditions definition

Answer 13

Everyone has the same chance of doing well- many modern intelligence tests are of this type.

Question 14

Correlation between GMA and job performance

Answer 14

• Strong correlation
• Can be used in selection process
• E.g.
  – United States (Hunter & Hunter, 1984)
  – Europe (Salgado & Anderson, 2002)
  – Germany (Hülsheger et al., 2007; Kramer, 2009)

Question 15

PMA

Answer 15

Primary mental abilities

Question 16

Thurstone’s PMA idea

Answer 16

• Intelligence – a set of PMAs all rather independent of
  one another
• Produces intelligence profiles rather than a single IQ
  score
• Common in intelligence tests used in clinical assessment like Wechsler’s intelligences scales, 1955

Question 17

Drawback of Thurstone’s

Answer 17

• Resource intensive

Question 18

Examples of PMAs

Answer 18

Verbal comprehension, Reasoning, Perceptual
speed, Numerical ability, Word fluency, Associative
memory, Spatial visualisation

Question 19

Criticism of intelligence tests

Answer 19

• Tests a ‘maximum performance paradigm’ i.e. the best you do
  under test and time conditions, not how you perform in
  everyday life → importance of motivation
• GMA and specific abilities predict task performance, but do
  they also predict other aspects of performance such as helping
  and extra-role behaviours (e.g., OCB)
• Tests using specific abilities predict performance better when they are matched to the demands of the job
• Biased towards ethnic minorities

Question 20

Advantages of intelligence tests

Answer 20

– intelligence tests strongly predict performance within and
across each group
– Possible use of culture free tests (less reliant on language)
– Other factors explain differences: family income, maternal
education, learning materials in home, parenting factors (e.g.
safe physical environment),

Question 21

System models of intelligence

Answer 21

• Gardner’s (1983) Theory of Multiple Intelligences
• Sternberg’s (1985) Triarchic theory of Intelligence
• Emotional Intelligence

Question 22

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Answer 22

1. Linguistic
2. Spatial
3. Logical-Mathematical
4. Musical
5. Bodily Kinaesthetic
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal
   Idea: All intelligences are independent

Question 23

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences Criticism

Answer 23

• MI theory is subjective
• No measure developed by Gardner
• No systematic research by Gardner to test his theory
• Incompatible with well-established concept of ‘g’
• Empirically, several of these intelligences have very high
  intercorrelations and are thus not independent
• Key mental abilities are not covered by the theory (e.g.
  inductive reasoning, memory, ..)
• It may be best to conceptualise MI as talents, skills, or
  competence in e.g. music, body coordination, etc.

Question 24

Emotional Intelligence definition

Answer 24

“The ability to monitor one’s own and
other people’s emotions, to discriminate between
different emotions and label them appropriately,
and use emotional information to guide thinking
and behaviour.” (Colman, 2006)

Question 25

Emotional Quotient (EQ)

Answer 25

“An index of emotional intelligence analogous to the IQ index of conventional intelligence. A number of scales to measure the emotional quotient were developed…” (Colman, 2006)

Question 26

Mayer and Salovey

Answer 26

“…a concept of intelligence that processes and benefits form emotions… EI is composed of mental abilities, skills or capacities.” * Extends traditional models of intelligence which fail to address individuals’ ability to perceive, process and manage emotions and emotional information effectively * Measure – Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale (MEIS). A performance based measure * But: Validity evidence is mixed

Question 27

Goleman (1995) EI idea

Answer 27

- There are 4 key domains to master skills: - Self awareness - Self management - Social awareness - Relationship management

Question 28

Criticism of Goleman model

Answer 28

* Old wine in new bottles? i.e. it repackages personality and intelligence literature, but doesn’t really add anything new * Overinclusive definition * Mixed empirical evidence

Question 29

What can measure ''g'' factor

Answer 29

Raven et al., 1996- progressive matrices

Question 30

Problem with raven progressive matrices to measure ''g'' factor

Answer 30

- Measures logic specifically - Scores worsen with age

Question 31

Difference between system and structural models of intelligence

Answer 31

Systems models include other factors other than cognitive ability.

Question 32

General criticisms of emotional intelligence (EI)?

Answer 32

* Concepts are too broad – lack of coherent definition and measurement * Measurement issues, e.g. scoring, discriminant validity * Limited data for comparison (norms) across jobs → Emotional Task Analysis * Potential for faking/impression management in selfreports by test takers → Problematic for selection! * limited evidence of EI predicting job performance (so far) * Emotional demands of jobs differ

Question 33

Why EI not always being used in job selection process?

Answer 33

People accept EI is multifaceted but disagreement over these facets.

Question 34

Sternberg, 1985- triarchic theory of intelligence

Answer 34

3 facets of intelligence: - Analytical - Creative - Practical