Defining and Measuring Intelligence

intelligence

mental ability consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

general intelligence factor (g)

construct that the different abilities and skills measured on intelligence tests have in common

specific intelligence (s)

measure of specific skills in narrow domains

fluid intelligence

capacity to learn new ways of solving problems and performing activities

crystallized intelligence

accumulated knowledge of the world we have acquired throughout our lives

standardization

giving a test to a large number of people at different ages and computing the average score on the test at each age level

Flynn effect

the observation that scores on intelligence tests worldwide have increased substantially over the past decades

intelligence quotient (IQ)

measure of intelligence that is adjusted for age

reliability

degree to which a test keeps producing the same or similar results over repeated testing

validity

the degree to which a test or other measure of some psychological construct actually measures that construct

achievement

what one has already learned

aptitude

an ability to learn

aptitude tests

measure one's ability to do well in college or in postgraduate training

personnel selection

the use of structured tests to select people who are likely to perform well at given jobs