Intelligence Flashcards
The psychometric approach
This is practical approach that entails producing reliable tests that measure individual differences of intellect.
These tests can be used to obtain a score, such as IQ, that can predict behaviour in some sphere of life.
Examples include academic or work performance
The theoretical approach
Concern with answering questions about what is intelligence such as its nature and composition.
Brief History of Intelligence
Intelligence testing first emerged in the latter part of the 19th century.
It was British mathematician, Sir Francis Galton conducted pioneering work to develop that statistics required for the measurement of intelligence.
Francis Galton is regarding as the father of the testing movement.
However, it was James Cattell, an American psychologist, who coined the term ‘mental testing’
Intelligence testing emerged largely in response to identifying children that had the ability to benefit from formal education.
This occurred during the turn of the 20th century when governments in and around European cities were opening and introducing public schools to every child.
Before this time, intelligence was regarded as the sensitivity to perception rather than mental or cognitive skills.
During the time of the introduction of public schooling for children, Alfred Binet, Victor Henri and Theodre Simon argued that the measurement of intelligence should focus on higher mental processes
Binet, Henri and Simon regarded the ability to reason, draw analogies and identify patterns as central components of intelligence.
In 1905, they developed the Binet-Simon Scale, which was an age-based measure that assessed cognitive development.
This scale represented the earliest forms of the intelligence tests that are used today to measure cognitive development.
David Wechsler
Another significant contribution to the history of intelligence testing was by David Wechsler.
He constructed three important tests:
- WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children)
- WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale)
- WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence)
These 3 tests have importantly formed the basis for many other tests, including the ones used in South Africa.
Wechsler believed that intelligence was a unitary trait and could be best explained through the performance over a wide range of intellectual activities.
The WAIS Subtests
- The Similarities Subtest
- The Vocabulary Subtest
- information subtest
- the comprehension subtest
- the block design subtest
- matrix reasoning subtest
- the digits span subtest
- arithmetic subtest
The WAIS Subtests:
The Similarities Subtest
Description = tester is asked to describe how two words or concepts are similar.
For example, an apple and an orange; how are they similar.
Measures: abstract verbal reasoning.
The WAIS Subtests:
The Vocabulary Subtest
Description: tester is asked to name objects in a picture or a line of pictures, or define words presented to her/him.
For example, which picture best captures friendship?
Measures: verbal comprehension and expression, and semantic knowledge.
The WAIS Subtests:
The Information Subtest
Description: the tester is asked a series of general knowledge questions.
For example, what is photosynthesis?; what do the lungs do?
Measures: degree of general information acquired from one’s culture i.e. social intelligence.
The WAIS Subtests:
The Comprehension Subtest
Description: tester is asked questions about social situations and common concepts.
For example, why do we turn the lights out when we leave the room?
Measures: ability to express abstract social rules, conventions and expressions.
The WAIS Subtests:
the block design subtest
Description: the tester is asked to piece together red and white blocks in a pattern according to a displayed model.
Measures: Visual-spatial
processing, problem solving, visual-
motor coordination.
The Matrix Reasoning Subtest
Description: tester is shown an array of pictures with one missing square and asked to select a picture that fits the array of pictures from five options.
Measures:
non-verbal abstract
problem solving
The WAIS Subtests:
The Digits Span Subtest
Description: tester is asked to listen to sequences of numbers orally and then to repeat them as heard, in reverse order, and in ascending order.
For example, repeat the numbers forward: 2, 3, 9, 1 and /or repeat the numbers backwards 24, 3, 7, 12.
Measures: working memory, attention, and mental control.
The WAIS Subtests:
The Arithmetic Subtest
Description: the tester is asked arithmetic word problems (timed).
For example, Michelle is two years younger than Peter, and five years older than Sam. If Sam is six how old is Michelle?
Measures: quantitative reasoning, concentration, and mental manipulation.
Tests in South Africa
The following scales are currently used in South Africa to assess the intellectual functioning of different age groups.
- JSAIS (Junior South African Individual Scale) = assess ages 3 to 7 years.
- SSAISR (Senior South African Individual Scale Revised) = assesses ages 8 to 17.
- WAIS (Wechsler Adult Individual Scale) = assesses ages 17 to 65.
Culture free testing
efforts by psychologists to develop psychological tests that would measure hereditary intellectual potential independently of cultural backgrounds.
