Intelligence

A.P. Psych

Information adapted from: http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/millikan/Teacher_folder/HawkinsS/AdPlPsychology2.htm

Origins of Intelligence Testing

Intelligence Test a method of assessing an individual’s

mental aptitudes and comparing them to those of others, using numerical scores

Origins of Intelligence Testing

Mental Age a measure of intelligence test performance

devised by Binet chronological age that most typically

corresponds to a given level of performance child who does as well as the average 8-year-

old is said to have a mental age of 8

Origins of Intelligence Testing

Stanford-Binet the widely used American revision of Binet’s

original intelligence test revised by Terman at Stanford University Terman added items to measure adult

intelligence He also revised a method of scoring by

developing the IQ or intelligence quotient From this method of scoring came the IQ Test

Origins of Intelligence Testing

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) defined originally the

ratio of mental age (ma) to chronological age (ca) multiplied by 100 IQ = ma/ca x 100)

on contemporary tests, the average performance for a given age is assigned a score of 100

What is Intelligence?

Intelligence ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and

use knowledge to adapt to new situations

Assessing Intelligence

Aptitude Test a test designed to predict a person’s future

performance aptitude is the capacity to learn

Achievement Test a test designed to assess what a person has learned

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) most widely used intelligence test subtests

verbal performance (nonverbal)

Assessing Intelligence

Standardization defining meaningful scores by comparison with

the performance of a pretested “standardization group”

Normal Curve the symmetrical bell-shaped curve that

describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes

most scores fall near the average, and fewer and fewer scores lie near the extremes

Getting Smarter?

The Normal Curve

Assessing Intelligence

Reliability the extent to which a test yields consistent

results assessed by consistency of scores on:

two halves of the test alternate forms of the test retesting

Validity the extent to which a test measures or predicts

what it is supposed to

Reliability v. Validity

Reliability and Validity of IQ Tests

Reliability:Problem before age 7. For teenagers and adults, reliability is high.

Validity:Can only be assessed for specific purposes.Reasonably good for predicting success in

school and many occupations.

Assessing Intelligence

Content Validity the extent to which a test samples the behavior

that is of interest driving test that samples driving tasks

Criterion behavior (such as college grades) that a test

(such as the SAT) is designed to predict the measure used in defining whether the test

has predictive validity

Assessing Intelligence

Evidence about a test’s validity:Content validityCriterion validityPredictive validityConstruct validityConcurrent validity

Genetic Influences

Genetic Influences

Heritability the proportion of variation among individuals

that we can attribute to genes variability depends on range of populations and

environments studied

Genetic Influences

Understanding Intelligence

Psychometric Approach – emphasizes the products of intelligence (IQ scores)Spearman’s g: scores on almost all tests of cognitive

abilities were positively correlatedg = cognitive ability, s = special intelligences

Thurstone: factor analysis – found seven independent primary mental abilities

Cattell: two types of gFluid intelligence – reasoning & problem solvingCrystallized intelligence – specific knowledge gained as a

result of fluid intelligence

Understanding Intelligence

Information-Processing Approach – analyzes the process of intelligent behavior rather than the productApplies the basic mental processes of

perception, learning, memory, and thought to the concept of intelligence

Understanding Intelligence Triarchic Theory – Sternberg

3 kinds of intelligences:1. Analytic – problem solving, measured by IQ tests

2. Creative – composing music, art

3. Practical – survival skills

Broadens the concept of intelligence and emphasizes what it means in everyday life

Understanding Intelligence

Multiple Intelligences – Gardner1. Linguistic

2. Logical-mathematical

3. Spatial

4. Musical

5. Body-kinesthetic

6. Intrapersonal

7. Interpersonal

8. Naturalistic

Diversity in Cognitive Abilities

Creativity – the ability to produce new, high-quality ideas or products

Divergent thinking – the ability to think along many paths to generate many solutions to a problem

3 kinds of cognitive and personality characteristics necessary for creativity:1. Expertise2. Set of creative skills3. Motivation

No strong correlation b/w IQ and creativity scores Creativity requires divergent thinking and IQ tests

assess convergent thinking (the ability to apply logic to narrow down the # of possible solutions)

Unusual Cognitive AbilitiesGiftedness –

high IQsdon’t necessarily share same cognitive abilitiesHave more of the basic cognitive abilities seen in all

childrenMental Retardation

IQ less than 70 and who fail to display skill at daily living and communicationDown syndrome – extra chromosomeFragile X syndrome –defect on chromosome 23Environmental conditions – head injury, exposure to

alcohol or toxinsFamilial retardation

Deficient in metacognition

The Dynamics of Intelligence

Unusual Cognitive Abilities (con’t)

Learning DisabilitiesDyslexia – letters appear disjointed or jumbledDysphasia – difficulty understanding spoken

words or recalling wordsDysgraphia – problems with writingDyscalculia – difficulty with arithmetic