Psychology: Key Concepts in Intelligence, Biases, and Testing Validity

Assimilation

Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting our current schemas (understandings) to incorporate new information.

Algorithm

Methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem.

Availability Heuristic

We presume such events are common.

Belief Perseverance

The persistence of one's initial conceptions even after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited.

Confirmation Bias

A tendency to search for info that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence.

Construct Validity

How much a test measures a concept or trait.

Content Validity

The extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest.

Convergent Thinking

Narrowing the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution.

Crystallized Intelligence

Our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.

Divergent Thinking

Expanding the number of possible problem solutions; creative thinking that diverges in different directions.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions.

Fluid Intelligence

Our ability to reason speedily and abstractly; especially during late adulthood.

Flynn Effect

The rise in intelligence test performance over time and across cultures.

Functional Fixedness

Prior experiences inhibit our ability to find creative solutions.

Gambler's Fallacy

Unconsciously using the representativeness heuristic when judging the likelihood of future events.

General Intelligence (g)

According to Spearman, general abilities are therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test.

Heuristic

Simple thinking strategy - a mental shortcut - that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently.

Linguistic Determinism

Whorf's hypothesis that language determines the way we think.

Linguistic Relativity

The idea that language influences the way we think.

Mental Age

Measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet; the level of performance typically associated with a certain chronological age.

Mental Set

A tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past.

Morphemes

In a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning, may be a word or a part of a word (such as a prefix).

Overgeneralization

An error when learning language, such as saying 'goed' instead of 'went'.

Phonemes

In a language, the smallest distinctive sound unit.

Predictive Validity

The success with which a test predicts the behavior it is designed to predict.

Psychometrics

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Reliable

The extent to which a test yields consistent results.

Representative Heuristic

Judging the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent or match particular prototypes.

Split-Half Reliability

Checking for consistency between the scores on two halves of the same test.

Stereotype Threat

A self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype.

Sunk-Cost Fallacy

Sticking to the original plan because we've invested our time, even when switching to a new approach could save us time.

Test-Retest Reliability

Having the same individual take the same test at different times.

Valid

The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to.