Intelligence and Psychometrics

Factor Analysis

A statistical method used to identify clusters or groups of related items (factors) on a test.

Fluid Intelligence (Gf)

The ability to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge.

Crystallized Intelligence (Gc)

The accumulation of knowledge, facts, and skills acquired through experience and education.

Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) Theory

A comprehensive framework of intelligence that combines fluid and crystallized intelligence with a broader set of cognitive abilities, such as memory, processing speed, and reasoning.

Savant Syndrome

A condition in which a person with significant mental disabilities demonstrates exceptional abilities in a specific area, such as math, music, or art.

Grit

Perseverance and passion for achieving long-term goals despite challenges and setbacks.

Creativity

The ability to produce new, original, and valuable ideas or solutions.

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and regulate emotions in oneself and others.

Mental Age

A measure of intellectual development expressed in terms of the age at which an individual performs intellectually.

Stanford-Binet

A widely used intelligence test adapted from Alfred Binet's original test by Lewis Terman at Stanford University.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

A score derived from standardized intelligence tests, calculated by dividing mental age by chronological age and multiplying by 100.

Achievement Tests

Tests designed to assess what a person has already learned in a specific area.

Aptitude Tests

Tests designed to predict a person's ability to learn or perform in the future.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

A widely used intelligence test for adults, measuring verbal and performance abilities.

Psychometrics

The field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, including intelligence and personality testing.

Standardization

Establishing uniform procedures for administering and scoring a test, ensuring it is valid for comparison across different individuals.

Flynn Effect

The observed rise in average IQ scores over time, attributed to environmental improvements such as better education and nutrition.

Normal Curve

A bell-shaped curve that represents the distribution of scores on a test, where most scores cluster around the average, and fewer are at the extremes.

Reliability

The consistency of a test in producing similar results under the same conditions.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Content Validity

The degree to which a test represents the entire range of possible items it should cover.

Predictive Validity

The extent to which a test predicts future performance in a specific area.

Construct Validity

The extent to which a test measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure.

Cross-Sectional Study

A study that compares individuals of different ages or groups at one point in time.

Longitudinal Study

A study that follows the same individuals or group over a long period to observe changes.

Cohort

A group of people who share a common characteristic or experience, such as age or year of birth.

Growth Mindset

The belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

Fixed Mindset

The belief that intelligence and abilities are innate and unchangeable.

Intellectual Disability

A condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, typically with an IQ below 70.

Down Syndrome

A genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21, associated with intellectual disability and physical characteristics.

Heritability

The proportion of variation in intelligence (or another trait) within a population that is attributable to genetic factors.

Stereotype Threat

The anxiety or concern experienced by individuals when they feel at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about their group.

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and adapt to new situations using mental abilities such as reasoning, memory, and understanding.

Intelligence Test

A standardized assessment designed to measure an individual's mental abilities in comparison to others, often producing an intelligence quotient (IQ) score.

General Intelligence (g)

A concept introduced by Charles Spearman, referring to a single underlying mental ability that influences performance across a variety of cognitive tasks.

Charles Spearman

Proposed the 'g factor,' a general intelligence factor underlying specific cognitive abilities.

L.L. Thurstone

Identified seven primary mental abilities, challenging the notion of a single general intelligence.

Raymond Cattell

Distinguished between fluid and crystallized intelligence.

Howard Gardner

Proposed the theory of multiple intelligences, which includes diverse areas such as linguistic, musical, spatial, and interpersonal intelligences.

Robert Sternberg

Developed the triarchic theory of intelligence, which includes analytical, creative, and practical intelligences.

John Mayer

Co-developer of the concept of emotional intelligence.

Peter Salovey

Co-developer of the concept of emotional intelligence.

David Caruso

Contributed to the development of emotional intelligence assessments.

Sir Francis Galton

Early pioneer in intelligence research, known for his work on hereditary genius and statistical analysis.

Alfred Binet

Developed the first practical intelligence test to identify students needing special educational assistance.

Lewis Terman

Revised Binet's test to create the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.

David Wechsler

Developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and other intelligence tests emphasizing both verbal and performance abilities.

Steven Pinker

A cognitive psychologist known for his work on language and evolutionary psychology.

Carol Dweck

Known for her research on motivation and the development of the growth mindset theory.