Psych - Unit 2: Intelligence and Testing

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

What is intelligence?

Measuring and defining intelligence is hard, it can be subject to bias. Researchers have debated whether intelligence is a general ability (g) or made up of multiple abilities

General Intelligence (g factor)

General intelligence (Charles Spearman) 

General intelligence (g) underlies all mental abilities and is measured by every task on an intelligence test. If they score high on one factor then they will score high on the others. Used factor analysis- factors that are similar occur together and can be grouped into one thing

Theories of Multiple Intelligences (Many psychologists want to extend the definition of intelligence beyond the idea of being academically smart)

Triarchic Theory: Proposes that there are 3 intelligences. Analytical, Creative, and Practical

Multiple Intelligences(Howard Gardner): Believed there are 8 relatively independent intelligences

Intelligence Test, Achievement Test, and Aptitude Test

Intelligence Test - Assesses people’s mental aptitudes and compares them with those of others, using numerical scores 

Achievement Test - A test designed to assess what a person has learned (ex. The AP exams)

Aptitude(Aptitude is the capacity to learn) Test - A test designed to predict a person's future performance (Ex. SAT)

Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

Growth Mindset - A focus on learning and growing rather than viewing abilities as fixed (Believing intelligence is changeable) 

Fixed Mindset - The view that intelligence, abilities and talents are unchangeable, even with effort (Believing intelligence in fixed)

Early Testing for IQ

The Stanford-Binet - Calculated IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

• Ratio of mental age to chronological age multiplied by 100

• Worked well with children but not for adults

• Stanford-Binet and current tests do not calculate IQ like this today

Wechsler Intelligence Scale

Developed by David Wechsler 

WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) - designed to measure intelligence and cognitive ability in adults and older adolescents

WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) - Measures g/IQ AND has subscores for Verbal comprehension, Processing speed, Perceptual organization, and Working memory

Standardization

defining uniform test procedures and meaningful scores by comparison with a performance of a pretested group, Scores should form a normal curve (Ex- SAT, ACT, AP exams)

The Flynn Effect

IQ scores have been steadily increasing from previous generations, Named after researcher James Flynn, No reason has been identified yet(Most likely it is due to  better nutrition and education)

Validity

the extent to which the test measures what it’s suppose to, (Reliability does not ensure validity!)

Types of Validity

Construct validity: a measure of how well a test represents a concept that can’t be directly observed or measured (ex- happiness, self confidence)

Predictive Validity: test accurately forecasts performance on a future measure (Ex- the ACT claims to predict one’s success in college)

Reliability

the extent to which a test has the same consistent results, (Reliability does not ensure validity!)

Types of Reliability

Split-half reliability: 2 groups of test takers should get similar scores when given halves of the test that covers the same material 

Test-retest reliability: a statistical measurement that measures how stable test scores are over time. (Scores must be consistent if a person takes the same test and different points in time)

Aging and Intelligence

Studied by Raymond Cattell

Crystallized Intelligence: our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills increases through old age (Examples- history facts, trivia)

Fluid intelligence: ability to recognize patterns, see relationships, and use logic to solve novel problems without a connection to past knowledge, (Decreases with age)

Bias In Testing (Are intelligence tests inappropriately biased?  How does the stereotype threat affect test-takers performance?)

Stereotype threat: a self confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype

Stereotype lift:  individuals not targeted by stereotype perform better on a task. (Ex- a man might perform better on a science test if reminded that women are typically considered worse at science than men.)

Extremes of Intelligence

• Two Extremes of Intelligence

  • Intellectual Disability

    • A condition of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence test score of 70 or below as well as having difficulty adapting to the demand independent life

  • Mental giftedness

    • Test score over 130

Emotional Intelligence

A type of social intelligence.  Consists of 4 abilities

• Perceiving emotion

• Understanding emotion

• Managing emotion 

• Using emotions