Intelligence and Its Measurement

Flashcards covering the definitions of psychological theories of intelligence, measurement methods, and key historical models from the lecture notes.

Intelligence

The abilities to understand complex ideas, adapt effectively to the environment, learn from experience, engage in various forms of reasoning, and overcome obstacles by taking thought.

Factor-analytic theories of Intelligence

Theories that focus on identifying the specific ability or groups of abilities that constitute intelligence using statistical hidden patterns.

g factor

The general intellectual ability factor postulated by Charles Spearman based on the observation that people who perform well on one mental ability test often perform well on others.

Factor analysis

A group of statistical techniques designed to determine the existence of underlying relationships between sets of variables or test scores.

Positive manifold

A finding by Spearman (1927) noting that cognitive tests tend to be positively correlated with one another.

s factors

Specific factors of intelligence identified by Spearman that represent abilities unique to a particular test or task.

Primary Mental Abilities

Thurstone's view that intelligence consists of several independent abilities, including verbal comprehension, word fluency, numerical ability, spatial reasoning, memory, perceptual speed, and inductive reasoning.

Fluid intelligence ($g_f$)

The ability to solve new problems, recognize patterns, and reason in unfamiliar situations; it is less dependent on culture or schooling and more vulnerable to aging.

Crystallized intelligence ($g_c$)

The ability to use learned knowledge, vocabulary, and facts gained from education and experience; it is more stable and may increase with age.

Investment Theory

Cattell's proposal that reasoning and problem-solving are used to learn information, such as mathematics, which eventually becomes part of crystallized intelligence.

Three-Stratum Theory

Carroll's organization of cognitive abilities into three layers: Stratum III (General Intelligence, $g$), Stratum II (Broad Abilities), and Stratum I (Narrow Abilities).

CHC Theory

The Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory which explains intelligence as a system of related cognitive abilities including perceptual processing, attentional control, fluid reasoning, and acquired knowledge.

Simultaneous processing

A processing style described by Aleksandr Luria where information is processed as a whole, such as recognizing a square or reading a map.

Successive processing

A processing style described by Aleksandr Luria where information is processed step by step, such as memorizing a phone number or spelling a word.

PASS Theory

A model of brain functioning based on four components: Planning, Attention, Simultaneous processing, and Successive processing.

Ratio IQ

A calculation used in early Stanford-Binet versions defined as: $\frac{\text{mental age}}{\text{chronological age}} \times 100$.

Deviation IQ

A comparison of an individual's performance with the performance of others of the same age in a standardization sample, replacing the ratio IQ.

Point scale

An organization of subtests by category of item rather than by the age at which most test takers should respond correctly.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

An adult intelligence test designed to tap abilities such as retention of information, quantitative reasoning, and social judgment, yielding multiple scores via a point scale.

Group Test of Intelligence

A type of assessment that allows large numbers of testtakers to be tested simultaneously, typically using formats easily scored by computer but minimizing adaptive testing opportunities.

Flynn Effect

The observation that intelligence test scores are influenced by the time, context, and environment, leading to generational changes in scores.

B.I.T.C.H test

The Black Intelligence Test of Cultural Homogeneity; a cultural-specific test.