Cognition and Intelligence

Cognition

Cognition: Mentally processing information“Thinking”

Language: Words or symbols, and rules for

combining them, that are used for thinking and communication

Language plays an important role in thinking:

Ability of language to generate new thoughts or ideas

Translating information into symbols

Semantics: Study of meaning in language

Phonemes: Basic speech sounds44 sounds in English language Example: Pat vs. Rat

Morphemes: Speech sounds collected into meaningful

units, Syllables or words Example: Pin

Grammar: Set of rules for:Making sounds into words Words into sentences Example: Tomato vs. Tomato

Syntax: Rules for word order in sentences

Ethnic communities give emotional meaning to words

Communication can evoke emotion Example: Would you rather eat prime rib or dead

cow?

Translating language can cause a rash of semantic problems Example: San Jose Public library’s banner was

supposed to say “You are welcome.” in a native Philippine language but the sign actually said “You are circumcised”.

Intelligence

Global capacity to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with the environment

Can intelligence be measured?

How do we measure intelligence?

Europe (1904) Alfred Binet Minister of Education in Paris wanted to

distinguish slower students from the more capable

Goal: Help the struggling students to “catch up” Devised a series of questions children of a

specific “age” should be able to answer Binet Intelligence test comes to America

(1916) Military and immigrants Stanford University revised the test Known as Stanford-Binet Test Assumed child’s intellectual abilities improve

with each passing year

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale - Fifth Edition (SB5):

Widely used by schools to measure individual intelligence test

Items are age-ranked

Measures different abilities to determine intelligence:

Example: Fluid reasoning, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory

Easy to administerLarge group of people with little

supervisionMultiple-choice items

Normal Bell-Shaped Curve: Average scoresExtreme scores

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test, (WAIS-III): WAIS – III Verbal intelligence Performance intelligence

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, (WISC-IV):

WISC – IV Downscaled version of the WAIS-III For children from age: 6 – 16.11 months.30 days Verbal intelligence Performance intelligence

Measure overall IQ

Verbal Intelligence: Language or symbol-oriented

intelligence

Performance Intelligence:Nonverbal intelligence

Chronological Age: Person’s age in years

Mental Age: Average intellectual performance

Intelligence Quotient (IQ): Mental age/Chronological age x 100 =

IQ

IQ Facts

Average IQ in the U.S.: 100

Determines projected school performance

Remains relatively stable throughout life

Inherited intelligence

Giftedness

Giftedness:The possession of a high IQ or special

talents or aptitudes

Mentally Gifted:2 % population Score above 130Tend to be successful in adulthood

Cognitively Impaired

Cognitively ImpairedPresence of a developmental disabilitySignificant impairment of adaptive behaviorPast: Mental Retardation

2% populationScore below 70Full inclusion in General EducationAdaptive skills

Traditional IQ tests suffer from cultural bias

Psychologists rethink the concept of intelligence

IQ does not predict practical intelligence

GardnerTheory of Eight Multiple

Intelligence

Language: lawyers, writers, comedians

Logic and Math: scientists, accountants, programmers

Visual and Spatial Thinking: engineers, inventors, artists

Music: composers, musicians, music critics

Bodily-Kinesthetic Skills: dancers, athletes, surgeons

Intrapersonal Skills (Self-Knowledge): poets, actors, ministers

Interpersonal Skills (Social Abilities): psychologists, teachers, politicians

Naturalistic Skills (Ability to Understand Natural Environment):

biologists, organic farmers

Evidence proves “Nature” and “Nurture” significantly contribute to IQ scores

Identical Twin Studies: Influence of Nature Shared DNA - Shared IQ

Strong evidence for genetic component

Adoption Studies: Influence of Nurture Shared environment – Shared IQ

Strong evidence for an environmental view of intelligence

No!

Drive, MOTIVATION and self-discipline are the keys to success!

Terman Study (next slide)

Terman Study

Tracked 1500 children with IQ scores in top 1%

Most became successful in traditional ways

Some felt short of their early promise Ex.: dropped out of school, low level jobs, etc.

Study compared the 100 most successful people with the 100 least successful

Study found that MOTIVATION made the difference!