Lecture 3

Question 1

What is the standard, evolutionary definition of intelligence?

Answer 1

Individual differences in an individual’s ability to solve problems that contribute towards their successful adaptation to the real world.

Question 2

What is Gottfredson’s (2000) psychological definition of intelligence?

Answer 2

A general ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, learn quickly, and learn from experience.”

Question 3

Intelligence is not measured directly/cannot be observed - it has to be inferred. This means it is a what?

Answer 3

Latent construct

Question 4

What is the range of heritability for IQ?

Answer 4

Between .40 and .80

Question 5

How does heritability of IQ relate to age?

Answer 5

Heritability of IQ becomes greater with age.

Question 6

What is inspection time?

Answer 6

The time it takes to process a sensory cue.

Question 7

Inspection time is said to be related to IQ. Is quick cognitive processing speed a cause or an effect of high IQ?

Answer 7

Could be either - there is no definitive answer within the literature as yet.

Question 8

According to Dunfart and Nuebauer (2016), IQ can predict what in secondary school?

Answer 8

GPA

Question 9

Dreary et al. (2005) showed that IQ is predictive of what?

Answer 9

Your social status later in life.

Question 10

Across the course of life, IQ becomes increasingly what for it’s effect on social status?

Answer 10

Important

Question 11

According to Batty et al., (2009), IQ can predict what? Describe the relationship between the two.

Answer 11

Mortality. The higher the IQ, the lower the hazard ratios, meaning the lower the mortality rate. Education has a moderating effect on the relationship, suggesting this is the source of increases in IQ.

Question 12

According to Calvin et al, (2010) one standard deviation in IQ above the mean can lead to what decrease in chance of death?

Answer 12

24% lower chance of death up to 69 years later.

Question 13

How does intelligence vary between genders?

Answer 13

Wider range of IQs in men than women. If you’re exceptionally smart, or have an exceptionally low IQ, you are much more likely to be male.

Question 14

What was Spearman’s (1923) theory of intelligence?

Answer 14

There is a general intelligence construct (g factor) and separate constructs for specific abilities

Question 15

Who challenged Spearman’s (1923) theory of intelligence, and what did they propose instead?

Answer 15

Thurstone (1938) proposed that there is no ‘g factor’, but are independent mental abilities.

Question 16

What were 6 criticisms of the psychometric approach to testing?

Answer 16

• Emphasis on a narrow band of human thinking
• Tasks don’t take into account real world intelligence.
• Link with academic performance due to structure of tests
• Not ecologically valid (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).
• Real life problems are often not clearly defined and ordered.
• Typically people have the choice about which problems to tackle.