3006PSY Module 5

factor analysis

examines how individual items on a test load against one or more factors; a way to discover the smallest number of factors that can account for the variables measured in psychological assessment

exploratory factor analysis (EFA)

used when we are unsure how items will load onto different factors

confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)

used when we have some idea of which items load onto what factors

1st order factors

the factors produced by factor analysis; map directly on to different items

2nd order factors

factors that indicate high correlation between different 1st order factors

3rd/ higher order factors

overarching factors which represent correlations between 2nd order factors

intelligence

the abilities to understand complex ideas, adapt to the environment, learn from experience, engage in reasoning, and obercome obstacles through thought

interactionalism

the process whereby heredity and environment interact and influence the development of intelligence

factor analytic theories of intelligence

focus on identifying an ability or group of abilities that constitute intelligence (eg spearmans 2 factor theory)

g-factor

a general, overarching factor that contributes to intelligence

s-factor

the specific factor of intelligence unique to the test being administered

army alpha test

assessed verbal ability, numerical ability, ability to follow direction, and knowledge of information

army beta test

the nonverbal counterpart of the army alpha test used on the illiterate, unschooled, and non-english speakers

flynn effect

the finding that younger generations tend to score higher on tests of intelligence than older generations, indicating the g-factor may be more environmental than innate