AP Psych Unit 11 (Intelligence)

Intelligence

Intelligence

the mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

it is SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED and used to rank people against one another

eg. which person is smarter, the VHS valedictorian, or the uneducated indigenous person from the Amazon?

eg. which person is smarter, the elderly person (high crystalized intelligence), or the young person (high fluid intelligence)?

Why is the definition of intelligence a debated topic?

Crystalized Intelligence

knowing the cold, hard FACTS!!!

a person gains knowledge of factual information over the years

eg. an elderly person can recall exactly what it was like during World War 2 (who was involved, who was president, the economy, etc.)

Fluid Intelligence

acquiring new skills!!!

eg. a young person is more likely to quickly figure out a new technological mechanism

1. Spearman’s g-factor theory

2. Thurstone’s 7 clusters theory

3. Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory

4. Goleman’s emotional intelligence (EQ) theory

5. Sternberg’s triarchic theory

What are all the Theories of Intelligence?

Spearman’s General Intelligence Factor Theory

• intelligence can be expressed by a single factor, or g-factor

• used factor analysis to conclude that underlying the many different specific abilities (mathematical vs. verbal intelligence) that people regard as types of intelligence is a SINGLE FACTOR

i.e. Mechanical, Verbal, Spatial, Numerical

1. Mechanical

2. Verbal

3. Spatial

4. Numerical

*I looked at all the space on the road (spatial) and thought, I need a car to drive so I must fix it up (mechanical), but I need to make calculations to fix the car (numerical), so I will ask someone for help (verbal)

What are the 4 categories that blend into 1 single g-factor, according to Spearman?

Charles Spearman

Who created the General Intelligence Factor Theory?

Thurstone’s 7 Clusters Theory

• there are 7 clusters of primary mental abilities

  • i.e. word fluency, verbal comprehension, spatial ability, perceptual speed, numerical ability, inductive reasoning, and memory

1. Perceptual speed

2. Inductive reasoning

3. Numerical ability

4. Spatial ability

5. Memory

6. Word fluency

7. Verbal comprehension

*PINS Me With V

What are the 7 clusters of mental ability, according to Thurstone?

When other investigators studied Thurstone’s profiles, they found evidence of a g-factor.

A criticism of Thurstone’s 7 Clusters Theory?

LL Thurstone

Who created the 7 Clusters Theory?

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory

• there are multiple, unrelated intelligences, which include traditional and nontraditional categories

  • i.e. musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, linguistic, mathematics, naturalistic, interpersonal, visual

The Gardner theory only identifies “talents,” not intelligence

A criticism of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory?

Howard Gardner

Who created the Multiple Intelligence Theory?

Savant Syndrome

a condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill

People w/ savant syndrome are considered geniuses bc they excel in 1 specific area of intelligence

**examples:

• Alonzo Clemons ~ 2 year old who smacked his LH and caused brain damage; couldn’t speak, but RH flourished (he could SCULPT with clay an exact replica of a 2D picture of an animal)

• Temple Gradin ~ designed paddles that press up against the side of cattle, calming them so work can be done on them

• Kim Peek ~ if you hand him a book, he will remember EVERYTHING (i.e. remembers every address of “John Smith” in a phone book in order)

What does the Multiple Intelligence Theory suggest about savant syndrome?

Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Theory

• the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions

• makes you successful in life!!!

  • IQ gets you the job, EQ makes you successful at it

EQ stretches intelligence TOO FAR, despite the fact that higher EQ scores correlate to future success (career, marriage, parenting, etc.)

A criticism of Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Theory?

Daniel Goleman

Who created the Emotional Intelligence Theory?

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory

• includes 3 intelligences:

  1. Analytical Intelligence

  2. Creative Intelligence

  3. Practical Intelligence

Analytical Intelligence

Academic problem-solving as assessed by traditional intelligence tests; focuses on well-defined problems w/ a SINGLE correct answer

eg. SAT testing

Creative Intelligence

Demonstrated in the reacting adaptivity to novel situations and generating novel ideas

eg. creative painting

Practical Intelligence

Your “street smarts”!!!

Required for everyday tasks, which may be ill-defined, w/ multiple solutions

eg. finding a flat tire, and figuring out what to do

• Thurstone’s 7 Cluster Theory

• Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory

• Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory

What are the 3 types of intelligence theories where you can excel in one thing, but perform poorly in another?

Are these categories (analytical, creative, practical) really independent?

A criticism of Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory?

1. Standardization

2. Reliability

3. Validity

What are the 3 criteria that must be met by psychological (intelligence) tests, in order to be widely accepted?

Standardization

Defining of uniform testing procedures and meaningful scores by comparison w/ the performance of a pre-tested group; “norms” have been established

Must create a STANDARD NORMAL CURVE

eg. the SAT psyshometricians use experimental sections and standardization samples to establish the norms for achievement

Psychometrician

Person who makes/assesses a test

Negative Skew

tail points to the negatives

Positive Skew

tail points to the positives

The Flynn Effect

An INCREASE in intelligence test scores throughout the 20th century

**results in an INCREASED need for standardization (i.e. new avg for IQ testing is 105 → must be shifted back to 100); items that everyone gets RIGHT AND WRONG are discarded

Wechsler Intelligence Test

Measures IQ!!!

mean = 100

standard deviation = 15 points

Normal Curve

Symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes

68-95-99.7 !!!

Reliability

Extent to which a test yields CONSISTENT results

Split-Half Reliability

Assesses consistency by dividing the test in two parts (i.e. odd-number questions vs. even-number questions), and assessing the accuracy of each part of the one test

**Parts should be roughly EQUAL for optimum consistency!

Equivalent-Form Reliability

Assesses consistency through alternative forms of the test (i.e. taking the Unit X exam again, today, and getting roughly the same score)

Test-Retest Reliability

Assesses consistency through RETESTING (i.e. taking the same Unit X exam as last class, and getting roughly the same score)

Validity

The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to; aka ACCURACY

eg. the SAT is supposed to predict how well you will do as an ungergrad

Face Validity

A measure of the extent to which the content of the test measures all of the knowledge or skills that are supposed to be included within the domain being tested, according to test-takers

i.e. did you learn everything you were supposed to about Developmental Psych, aka Unit 9?

Content Validity

A measure of the extent to which the content of the test measures all of the knowledge or skill that is supposed to be included within the domain being tested, according to expert judges

i.e. rearranging blocks for the Wechsler Test… you would think, “what value does this have? this is easy,” BUT in actuality, the judges are timing you and it truly has value

Criterion-Related Validity

A measure of the extent to which a test’s results correlate with other accepted measures (criteria) of what is being tested

i.e. colleges use your AP score (3, 4, 5) to excuse your engagement in a college course… looks at criteria of the college course, which is matched to that of the AP test

Concurrent Validity

A measure of the extent to which the test provides similar scores as other tests on the same subject

i.e. similar scores on BOTH the MCQ and FRQ portions of the AP Test

Predictive Validity

A measure of the extent to which the test accurately forecasts a specific future result

i.e. the SAT predicts how well you will do as an undergrad

Construct Validity

The extent to which the test actually measures the hypothetical construct behavior (intelligence) it is designed to assess

i.e. the MMPI-2 can discriminate between people with schizophrenia and those without

1. Aptitude Tests

2. Achievement Tests

What are the 2 most common types of tests?

Aptitude Tests

Tests designed to predict a person’s future performance

i.e. SAT (predicts how well you’ll do as an undergrad-student) and GRE (predicts how well you’ll do as a grad-student

Achievement Tests

Tests designed to assess what a person has learned

i.e. the Unit X Exam in AP Psych

VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE

Making an exam that EXCLUSIVELY measures one of these qualities (aptitude & achievement) is ______.

Speed Tests

Tests gauge how quickly a person can solve problems

Power Tests

Tests gauge the difficulty level of problems an individual can solve

i.e. a 500 question test gets progressively harder… if you miss 5 in a row, you’re done

Group Tests

A large # of people are tested at the same time

i.e. SAT in a room full of people

Individual Tests

A single person is tested by an examiner, allowing for greater depth

i.e. Wechler Test

Francis Galton; James McKeen Cattell

In the 1880s, _____ and ______ used psychomotor tasks (strength, reaction time, sensitivity to pain, weight) as a “mental test” to identify intelligence

**failed to validate their eugenics-based ideas of intelligence

Psychomotor Tasks

• strength

• reaction time

• sensitivity to pain

• weight

Eugenics

A certain race of people deemed genetically inferior

Alfred Binet; Theodore Simon

In 1904, _____ and ______ were hired by the FRENCH gov to identify children who would NOT benefit from a traditional school setting and those who would benefit from special education

Compulsory School Attendance

What did the French gov implement in 1904?

Binet-Simon scale for class placement

Binet and Simon sampled performance tasks (memory, comprehension, and judgement) to assign children a mental age (mental level)

Suggested using the RATIO of mental age (MA) to chronological age (CA) to determine a child’s level of intelligence

• 1 = average

• 1 = above average

• <1 = below average

**developed into IQ later

What did William Stern suggest, based on the Binet-Simon Scale?

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

In 1911, Lewis Terman developed this; reports results as an IQ (intelligence quotient)

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

• calculated by taking [MA/CA x 100]

  • THIS CALCULATION IS ONLY USED FOR CHILDREN!!!

• Newest version assesses 5 ability areas:

  1. knowledge

  2. fluid reasoning

  3. verbal quantitative reasoning (ELA)

  4. non-verbal quantitative reasoning (math)

  5. visual-spacing processing (pattern recognition)

100

What is the AVERAGE IQ?

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale for adults

Uses a deviation IQ resulting from a standardization process

**can’t use the children’s formula bc, according to research, intelligence stabilizes

z-score

looks at standard deviation

• z=0 ~ NO deviation

• z=1 ~ 1 std above average

• z=-1 ~ 1 std below average

G-factor

ONLY 1 score… connects all abilities

What kind of test is the Stanford-Binet?

David Wechsler

In 1939, _______ began developing alternatives to the Stanford-Binet

1. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)

   • preschool

2. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

   • age 6-16

3. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

• older adolescents and adults

What are the alternatives to the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, according to Wechsler?

AGE 7!!!

What is the most IDEAL time to test intelligence to predict future success?

Full IQ Scale (FSIQ)

Verbal IQ + Performance IQ

Verbal IQ

• Verbal Comprehension Index (vocab, similarities, info, comprehension)

• Working Memory Index (arithmetic, digit span, letter #, sequencing)

Performance IQ

• Perceptual Organization Index (picture completion, block design, matrix reasoning)

• Processing Speed Index (digit symbol, coding, symbol search)

Intelligence DECLINES w/ age

According to cross-sectional evidence, will a person’s intelligence score remain stable over the course of their life?

Intelligence remains STABLE w/ age

**maybe goes up w/ crystalized intelligence

According to longitudinal evidence, will a person’s intelligence score remain stable over the course of their life?

4 years old

When is the earliest you can test intelligence for maximum benefit?

7 years old

When is the latest you can test intelligence for maximum benefit?

Low Extreme of Intelligence

People w/ an IQ < 70 (2 standard deviations below mean); labeled as having an intellectual disability

Mild Intellectual Disability

• 85% of ID population

• mentally in 6th grade

Moderate Intellectual Disability

• 10% of ID population

• mentally in 2nd grade

Severe Intellectual Disability

• 5% of ID population

• some vocational occupation, but must have supervision

• can learn self-help skills and routines

**ICAP program at VHS

Profound Intellectual Disability

• 1% of ID population

• require intensive support

High Extreme of Intelligence

People w/ an IQ > 130 (2 standard deviations above mean); labeled as being intellectually gifted (genius)

**Terman’s research showed that the stereotypes of high extreme of people are incorrect!!

YES.

• estimates heritability of intelligence range from 50-80%

• Thomas Bouchard calculated 70% after reviewing twin & adoption studies

• Researchers have created “smarter” mice by manipulating genes in polygenic studies

Do people who share the same genes also share comparable mental abilities?

Heritability

A number that tells us how much of something you can attribute to a person’s genes (HIGHER = more nature, LOWER = more nurture)

Polygenetic

MANY genes contribute to the formation of intelligence, since there are so many factors that determine intelligence.

• Discovered delayed development in children

  • Could NOT sit up unassisted at age 2, or walk at age 4

  • Little sense of personal control over their environment since their cries, coos, or other behaviors went unacknowledged

• Called the Iranian children “glum lumps”

What did J McVicker Hunt observe in Iranian orphanages?

Began a program of tutored human enrichment where he trained caregivers to play language-fostering games (VOCAL GAMES) with infants.

The results were a dramatic, unprecedented success for the orphanage. **more adoption!!

How did J McVicker Hunt address delayed development in Iranian orphanages?

YES and NO.

• YES bc the environment can prevent you from reaching your full potential for intelligence (i.e. Iranian orphanages)

• NO bc you can’t surpass what is genetically predisposed for intelligence (you can’t BECOME a genius, if you have the capacity for average intelligence)

Regarding intelligence, can environmental conditions override one’s genes?

• less-qualified teachers vs. qualified teachers

• malnutrition

What are some environmental factors that can influence intelligence?

Project Head Start

A US government-funded program for preschool for families below the poverty line (1965); prepares children for education to keep them from being held back

YES and NO.

• YES bc there is belief that there are long-term benefits, since genes and experience together affect intelligence (i.e. you aren’t as embarrassed, if you aren’t held back, and you can reach your full potential for intelligence)

• NO bc, generally, the aptitude benefits dissipate over time

Was Project Head Start effective?

1. Racial groups differ in their average scores on intelligence tests

2. High-scoring people are more likely to attain high levels of education and income

**According to this, since the mean IQ scores for African-Americans is 85, essentially they will struggle in life as opposed to caucasian

What are the 2 disturbing facts about ethnicity and intelligence?

Group differences may be rooted entirely in ENVIRONMENTAL differences, NOT genetics

*think about the Iranian orphanages! where would those kids be if they were given the SAME opportunities as other kids?

What might cause differences between races in intelligence scores?

Women:

• spelling

• verbal ability

• non-verbal ability/object location

• sensory acuity

Men:

• spatial ability

• complex math

• intellectual extremes

*equal math computation/overall math performance

What are gender differences in mental ability scores?

IT DEPENDS…

• YES for the Popular Meaning of Bias

• NO for Scientific Meaning of Bias

If an intelligence test is biased, should it be used as an assessment tool?

Popular Meaning of Bias

• An intelligence test IS biased, if it measures your developed abilities, which reflect, in part, your education and experiences (ENVIRONMENT)

• eg. knowing what an iced tea saucer is

Yes

Should an exam w/ “popular bias” be continued?

Scientific Meaning of Bias

• An intelligence test IS biased, if it only assesses 1 group of test-takers, despite being presented as a VALID test for all participants

• eg. the SAT test-makers weighted the test questions women did better on (as worth more points) in comparison to men … UNFAIR!! Doesn’t represent all demographics

No

Should an exam w/ “scientific bias” be continued?

Self-doubts and self-monitoring may hijack your working memory and impair your performance

How does the stereotype threat lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy?