Intelligence Theories

Question 1

Theories of intelligence

Answer 1

Factor theories consider the structure of intelligence with regard to what and how many factors are involved. They are also limited to a range of cognitive skills. Other theorists (e.g. Sternberg, 1982-93 and Gardner, 1983) describe a broader range of intelligent behaviours than those normally measured by intelligence tests.

Question 2

Factor Analysis

Answer 2

Involves giving lots of tests supposedly measuring different abilities, e.g. verbal reasoning, spatial ability, etc., then looking for correlations (or similarities) of scores on different tests. If low correlation found between two tests, assume they are measuring different abilities and decide what is the underlying factor. Follow this procedure to come up with a number of unique factors. Correlation matrix.

Question 3

Spearman (1923)

Answer 3

thought a general intelligence factor underlies all abilities - • the ‘g factor’ , but also an ‘s’ factor for particular areas of competence

Question 4

Cattell (1963)

Answer 4

thought there were 2 ‘g factors’
• fluid intelligence (gf)- the ability to reason abstractly, make inferences, understand relationships
• crystallised intelligence (gc) - from what a person learns and retains from experience
Intelligence, then, a product of heredity (gf) and environment (gc).
Whilst gf falls with age, gc continues to improve.

Question 5

Thurstone (1938)

Answer 5

thought seven independent intelligence factors (cognitive abilities) :-verbal comprehension, verbal fluency, inductive reasoning, spatial visualisation, number, memory, and perceptual speed.

Question 6

Guilford (1967)

Answer 6

structure-of-intellect theory:- thought 120 cognitive abilities
• 5 types of mental operation - thinking, remembering, divergent production (lateral thinking, creativity, etc.), evaluation, and convergent production (logical thinking) WHICH PRODUCE
• 6 types of product - units, classes, relations, systems, transformations, and implications AND THERE ARE
• 4 types of content involved in processing - figural, semantic, behavioral, and symbolic

Question 7

WAIS

Answer 7

WAIS and relationships/high correlations between components contributing to overall ‘g’

Question 8

Gardner (1986)

Answer 8

Intelligence as ‘our ability to do something that other people value within one’s culture’. Several unrelated abilities:-

• verbal/language ability
• mathematical-logical reasoning
• spatial-perceptual skills

BUT ALSO NON-COGNITIVE
• musical ability 
• bodily ability 
• intrapersonal ability
• interpersonal ability

Could be accounted for by localisation of function in the brain, e.g. left brain language and logical reasoning: right brain spatial/artistic/ musical

Could account for exceptional groups, e.g. idiot savants

Theory does not really look at processes, though, and there are some high correlations between ‘different’ intelligences. - so are they really separate?

Question 9

Sternbergs Triarchic Theory (1985)

Answer 9

Argues that the factorial ‘g’ is too narrow a concept of intelligence. Like Gardner, thinks intelligence more than cognitive processing. Also tries to explain the processes behind cognitive abilities (factors).

Question 10

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory (1985) - Componential Sub theory

Answer 10

considers cognitive abilities as do factor theories above, but extends to considering the mechanisms behind them. Tasks are broken down into components where each component is ‘ an elementary information process that operates upon internal representations of objects or symbols’.

Question 11

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory (1985)- Experiential subtheory

Answer 11

like fluid and crystallised difference (Cattell) with better performance on ‘novel’ and ‘automatic’ tasks respectively. Creative intelligence?

Question 12

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory (1985)- Contextual Sub theory

Answer 12

social intelligence and practical intelligence for different cultures. Tacit or streetwise knowledge. Adaptation, Shaping and Selection.