week 3 Flashcards
what is intelligence?
Intelligence is a broad mental capacity encompassing reasoning, problem-solving, abstract thinking, and learning from experience. It extends beyond academic skills and involves comprehending the environment. Intelligence tests measure this multifaceted concept, and its definition varies due to its breadth.
Francis Galton
In 1869, it was proposed that superior hereditary qualities contribute to higher intelligence. The central hypothesis suggests that individual intelligence differences can be directly measured, using methods like reaction time, sensory acuity (sight and hearing), and color discrimination. Lower intelligence is associated with reduced sensory responsiveness, affecting the ability to distinguish sensations like heat, cold, and pain.
binet
The Binet-Simon scale in 1905 was the first intelligence test designed to identify children in need of special education. It included 30 everyday tasks, such as tracking a light with their eyes. Test results established a child’s “mental age” by comparing their performance with that of children of the same age. The test featured both easy and challenging tasks, from eye-tracking to naming body parts.
Yerkes
Army Alpha was designed for literate groups and the Army Beta was designed for illiterates
William Stern
In 1912, Stern introduced the concept of IQ (intelligence quotient). Mental age varied in proportion to real age, and the ratio of mental age to chronological age remained relatively constant. IQ was calculated by dividing these two terms and multiplying the result by 100
terman
In 1916, the Stanford-Binet scale, a revised version of the Binet-Simon scale, was developed with data from a larger sample of 1,000 children, enhancing its accuracy.
Charles spearman
Between 1904 and 1921, factor analysis identified a ‘positive manifold’ among intelligence tests, leading to the concept of general intelligence.
spearman’s two factor theory: g and s
theory of intelligence, “G” represents a fundamental mental energy required for success in various intelligence tests, while “S” factors pertain to specific abilities needed for individual task performance.
development of standardised tests
Spearman’s theory of intelligence contributed to the development of more robust intelligence tests suitable for broader populations. The Wechsler tests, including the Wechsler-Bellevue Scale in 1939 (standardized with 1,500 adults), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) in 1955 (standardized with 2,000 adults aged 16-75), and the Wechsler scale for children aged 5-16, are notable examples of such tests.
deviation iq
Wechsler conducted extensive testing across various age groups to establish norms. These tests primarily compared an individual’s scores to those of their age-matched peers. In 1939, IQ scores were transformed and standardized, setting the mean at 100 and the standard deviation at 15.
widely used in clinical settings
culture fair tests
Tests developed in one culture might not apply to another.
The question arises: can we create a culture-free intelligence test? And can IQ tests have universal validity? It highlights the notion that intelligence can have varied interpretations across different contexts and cultures.
ravens progressive matrices
Intelligence tests evaluate abstract reasoning and inference skills. The overall IQ score, based on deviation from norms, is designed to be culture-fair and free from cultural and language biases.
fluid vs crystallized intelligence (1963)
Crystallized intelligence: Acquired knowledge and skills.
Fluid intelligence: Abstract reasoning.
three stratum theory (1993)
This is a systematic organization of over 50 years of research on human cognitive abilities.
cattle-horn-carrol theory
involves integrating existing theories while considering the practical aspects of psychometric testing, exemplified by the Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery in the US.
theory of multiple intelligence
Reside in separate brain sections
Are independent
Are not controlled by any central brain function
Critiques of the theory include:
Some of Gardner’s intelligences are hard to define and questionably measurable.
Limited empirical research.
Lack of evidence for neural mechanisms (Waterhouse, 2006).
High intercorrelation between intelligences and with personality traits (Furnham, 2009).
High positive correlation between ability tests for intelligences and general intelligence (Visser et al., 2006).
emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence, as described by Goleman in 1995, comprises five components:
Self-awareness (identifying one’s own emotions)
Self-regulation (managing and controlling emotions)
Motivation (emotional states related to achievement)
Empathy (assessing and influencing others’ emotions)
Social skills (maintaining interpersonal relationships)
why emotional intelligence?
Defining and measuring emotional intelligence can be confusing due to the overlap between personality traits and mental abilities. Mayer and Salovey (1993) make a distinction: intelligence involves mental abilities, while traits are behavioral preferences. Recognizing and understanding others’ emotions is considered a mental ability, involving enhanced processing of emotion-related information.
creativity
Creativity is the skill to generate novel and useful ideas, rooted in divergent thinking. It involves thinking outside the box, reimagining old problems, and generating multiple potential solutions. Tests for divergent thinking evaluate both the quantity and quality of ideas produced.
creativity and intelligence
Creativity and IQ show a correlation only when IQ is below a certain threshold, as proposed by Guilford in 1967. This idea has been the subject of debate, with mixed findings. Recent research suggests a moderate correlation of around -0.35 (Gerwig et al., 2021).
psychology of intelligence:current status
General intelligence (g), fluid and crystallized intelligence remain influential. Traditional IQ tests like Wechsler’s and Raven’s are still widely used. Multiple intelligences and non-cognitive abilities gain value in education and applied settings, and there’s growing interest in cognitive abilities not typically measured by conventional IQ tests, like rationality.