Unit 10 Thinking, Language & Intelligence

Algorithm

methodical, logical rule, or procedure that guarantees solving a problem because it explores every possibility

• Ex. doctors and mental health professionals may use an algorithm to diagnose their patients

• step -by-step process to figure out the diagnosis

Heuristic

• “rules of thumb”

  • Thinking strategies that allow you to make quick and efficient decisions, but they can lead to incorrect outcomes

• Ex. casting a vote based on party, picking where to eat based on how long the drive through is

Functional fixedness

The inability to use an object for something than its intended purpose

• usually caused by someone’s “mental set”

Gambler’s fallacy

Predicting a new outcome based on the previous outcome

Babbling stage

Availability heuristic

mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic, idea, concept, etc.

Divergent thinking

thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring possible solutions

Overgeneralization

Critical periods and language

Phonemes

Morphemes

Syntax

Aptitude test

measure the ability in certain areas

○ Ex. Career Tests, ACT/SAT

Achievement test

Identifies what an individual knows

and tests their skill levels in different areas

(Reflection of an individuals learning)

○ Ex. Unit exams in this class

Flynn effect

The rise/increase of intelligence test performance over time & across cultures

Mean score for IQ test

Standard deviation of IQ test

Reliability

the extent to which a test yields consistent results

(gives similar results each time its taken)

Test-retest (Reliability)

The higher the correlation is between two tests the more reliable it is

• does your score correlate with ur old test

Split-half (Reliability)

Validity

the extent to which a test measures or predicts what its supposed to

(Measures what it’s supposed to measure)

■ Construct & Predictive

Construct (Validity)

How much a test measures a concept or trait

• ex. Intelligence, self-esteem, depression, etc

Predictive (Validity)

IQ formula

score/age x 100

Stereotype threat

Mental set

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

con:

• Relying on strategies that have worked in the past prevents someone from seeing a better approach

Prototype

mental image of the best example of a specific concept or category

(kind of like a stereotype)

• Ex. many people may think of a golden retriever first when asked to name a type of dog

Priming

Framing