Paper 3 - Child 1 - Intelligence

Question 1

explain the background study done by Gould

Answer 1

…

Question 2

Explain the background study by Flynn

Answer 2

• nutrition is a biological fcator because it affects the functioning of biological systems, it is apart of our biological environment
• effeicient neurotransmitter functioning depends on the presence of certain chemicals in the diet
• he noticed that IQ scores in most countries increased decade after decades since the 1930s
• as diet improved there was generational gain known as the flynn effect

Question 3

what is the ain of Van Leeuwens study

Answer 3

• carry out an extended twin study
• which would test is phenotypic assortement or social homogamy is a better explanation for variation in IQ
• investigate if biological factors (phenotype) and/or environmental factors (phenotype) affect intelligence more

Question 4

what is the method of Van leeuwens study

Answer 4

• correlation of IQ of twins, siblins are parents

Question 5

what is the sample of Van leeuwens study

Answer 5

• a letter was sent to 214 Dutch families inviting them to take part in the study
• The families were selected from the netherlands twin registery
• the families included a set of twins and an additional sibling
• 112 families agreed to take part
• MZ and DZ twins

Question 6

what is the materials of Van leeuwens study

Answer 6

• children’s intelligence was assessed at the Free University of Amsterdam using Ravens standard progressive matrices
• The parents completed Raven’s advanced progressive matrices, a more difficult version
• Both tests provided a score that indicated general intelligence

Question 7

what is the procedure of Van leeuwens study

Answer 7

• the children and their parents visited the university to be tested
• completed tests in separate rooms
• procedure took 5 hours including breaks
• twin status was established by parents taking cheek swabs from themseleves and children
• The university’s medical centre used a genetic tested machine to detemine if they were MZ or DZ twins
• this is a standardised method
• For 2 twin pairs a questionnaire was used instead

Question 8

explain the results of Van leeuwens study

Answer 8

• 67% of IQ variance was due to genetics
• 33% was due to environmental effects

Question 9

explain the conclusions of Van leeuwens study

Answer 9

• individual differences in intelligence are largely explained by genes that are passed on from parents to offspring (transmission of genes), while cultural tramsmission from parents does not have an effect
• environmental factors are much more important in children with a predispostion for low IQ than those predisposed to high IQ
• environmental factors which influence IQ are generally not shared by siblings
• all of the results are consistent with spearman’s view that the general intelligence factor g is mostly inherited.

Question 10

evaluate validity of this topic

Answer 10

1.Van leeuwens study - doubts over validity of Ravens standard progressive matrices because it depends on the validity of spearman’s g as an explanation of intelligence which is increasingly rejected.
2. Van leeuwen - low population validity - only Dutch
3. Yerkes Iq testing - low internal validity

Question 11

evaluate reliability of this topic

Answer 11

1. Van leeuwen - used standardised procedures and techniques, e.g. swab tests.
2. Van leeuwens - raven tests are considered to have good internal and external reliability, however 2 were tested using a questionnaire
3. Yerkes - un reliable

Question 12

explain the sampling bias of this topic

Answer 12

1. Van leeuwens study - pps from netherland twin registery
2. Van leeuwen - significant medical history, psychiatric problems, specical educational needs or physical disabilites were exlcuded.
3. Yerkes - US army soldiers which come from a range of cultures and countries

Question 13

explain the ethnocentrism of this study

Answer 13

• Van leeuwens study - used intelligence test that is known to be culture - fair, provides a measure of intelligence that is independent of language and education, so it makes no ethnocentric assumptions about the nature of intelligence
• Van leeuwens study only used dutch families - intelligence is a western assumption about superiority of logical and rational thinking. other culures may define it differently
• Yerkes test were based on American culture

Question 14

explain the nature-nurture debate in this topic

Answer 14

• Van leeuwens study - intelligence is genetic
• flynn - nutrition is a biological fcator because it affects the functioning of biological systems, it is apart of our biological environment
  nurture - twins share an environment
• Gould - Gould argued that the tests were more a measure of education and cultural familiarity than innate intelligence

Question 15

explain the freewill/ determinism debate in this topic

Answer 15

• results of van leeuwen supports that biological factors are responsible for individual differences in IQ - biological determinsim
• nutrition is a biological fcator because it affects the functioning of biological systems, it is apart of our biological environment - biological determinism
• freewill - Van leeuwen - freewill over choosing a partner, the child’s IQ is a result of this choice

Question 16

explain holism/ reductionism debate in this topic

Answer 16

*biological reductionism - Van Leeuwen - genetics
* Biological reductionism - Flynn - nutrition
* Holistic- clear non biological factors that are influencing intelligence

Question 17

explain the usefulness of research in this topic

Answer 17

1. van leeuwen used reliable tests
2. van leeuwen used a correlation which shows no cause and effect
3. flynn shows how diet can impact IQ

Question 18

Evaluate ethical considerations in this topic

Answer 18

1. van leeuwen - some children may have found the test as difficult with the potential to lower their self esteem and cuase some anxiety. However they gave them short breaks
2. Mcgue used children which is indirect informed consent
3. Gould is socially sensitive

Question 19

evaluate socially sensitive research in this topic

Answer 19

1. strength - study rare behaviour, twins
2. weakness - labelling - gould labels foreign people as dumb
3. weakness - change in policies - gould - immigration laws

Question 20

what are the 2 applications of assessing intelligence

Answer 20

1. weschlsler intelligence scale for children (WISC)
2. raven’s progressive matrices

Question 21

what is the WISC

Answer 21

• measures the 5 main forms of intillectual functioning, each one is measured by 2 sub tests
• trained testers administer the test face to face with individual children in a session lasting between 15 mins and 3 hours.
• it can produce separate scores for various aspects of the child’s intellectual functioning but the overall score is a measure of general ability called full scale IQ.

Question 22

What is the usefulness, effectiveness and practicalities of WISC

Answer 22

• usefulness - not culturally fair test because it depends on language skills,
• effectiveness - high internal reliability
• practicalities - can be done online and in person

Question 23

what is the usefulness, effectivness and practicalities of ravens progressive matrices

Answer 23

• usefulness - culturally fair as doesnt dependent on language skills
• effectiveness - test re test reliability is high
• practicalities - more flexible and simple to interpret

Question 23

what is the raven’s progressive matrices

Answer 23

• assesses fluid intelligence
• used on children
• pen and paper test consisting of 60 items
• each item shows a sequence of geometrical shapes and the pps must choose a shape which fits into the pattern
• there is an advanced version for adults
• takes between 15-45 mins
• can be used for disabilities
• produces a single raw score

Question 24

evaluate psychology as a science in this topic

Answer 24

1. Van leeuwen - low population validity - only Dutch
2. Van leeuwen - used standardised procedures and techniques, e.g. swab tests.
3. yerkes - unreliable