CH10: Intelligence Flashcards
What is intelligence?
The ability to learn, adapt to the environment’s demands, and to understand and control one’s mental activities (thinking, reasoning, and problem solving). Intelligence is a social construct, a variable needed to be operationalized.
How do Psychologists Operationalize Intelligence?
The first IQ test was developed in France. This test was developed to measure the “mental age” and identify kids who required special needs. The questions would measure reasoning ability, and predict academic success to some degree. The US developed their own version which enabled the comparison across age groups. They used the intelligence quotient (IQ) score:
IQ = Mental age (score)/chronological age x 100. Up to now, IQ tets required verbal ability to perform well. This is problematic for non-native speakers. We now used the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), which assesses both verbal and performance IQ. This follows the bell curve.
Dark History of IQ Testing
IQ tests have been used to justify terrible and baseless ideologies. People believed back then that genetic traits could and should be controlled through selective breeding. Race would fall into this category, claims of some racial groups were more intellectual than the others. A heirarchy of ethnic groups was formed under the idea of intelligence. Following the Holocaust, scientists began to gather evidence for environmental impacts on IQ. New generations would perform better on old tests than older generations. This phenomenon, known as the Flynn effect, happened way too quickly for it to be evolutionary. It was more likely that it was environmental, from the improved education, healthcare, etc.
General vs. Specific Intelligence
Spearman created the two factor theory of IQ. This concluded that all cognitive abilities have a common factor. Factor Analysis is the statistical technique using correlations to identify overlap.
Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences Theory
Gardeners Multiple Intelligences Theory lead to the development of learning styles in education, but lacks empirical support, and is not easily fasifiable. Learning styles have been discredited by evidence.
Psychometric Approach to Measuring Intelligence
Psychometric approach is a method of determining intelligence by measuring it through carefully constructed psychological tests. When constructing any psychological test, we need to ensure that there is reliability and validity.
Reliability
Reliability has to do with the consistency of a measurement. A reliable test would produce consistent results. Inconsistencies would be the result of errors. The correlation coefficient would measure the reliability of a measurement.
Validity
A valid test will measure what it was supposed to measure. To ensure validity, the prodecure must accurately measure the variable that it is meant to measure.
Reliability and Validity
A test can be reliable, but not valid. Reliability is a required prior condition for validity.
Are IQ Tests Reliable?
Many standarized IQ tests, example being StanfordBinet and WAIS, are exceptionally reliable, with a correlation coefficient of .90. Evidence suggests that some are valid, mainly in academic (.60 - .50 and higher with years of schooling) and verbal intelligence. Moderately related to others, but correlation does not equal to causation.
Where does Intelligence come from?
Intelligence is a product of nature and nurture. Environmental factors of intelligence are family environment, dominating childhood; culture, where the definition of intelligence varies from cultures; school, which is both a cause and result of intelligence; and environmental influence. The Flynn effect could be related to environmental factors as well.
Sternberg’s Three Intelligences
Sternberg was interested in how people apply intelligence into the real world. He created teh triarchic theory, believing that intelligence is broken down into 3 components.
Internal is the analytic component of intelligence. This side would focus on comparing, analyzing, and evaluating information.
External is the creative component of intelligence. This side focuses on inventing or creating solutions to problems.
Experimental is the practical component of intelligence. This side focuses on the ability to apply what you know to everyday contexts.
Heritability
Heritability is a statisitcal estimate of how much variability in a trait is attributed to genetics, such as hair colour being high and religion being low. Heritability coefficient is a correlation coeffecient measuring the contribution of heredity to a trait.
