Intelligence

1. Intelligence Who is your prototype of a highly intelligent person? Who is your prototype of a person of low intelligence? ….Then what is intelligence?

2. Intelligence: What is it…? • How do we define intelligence? • the ability to gather and use information in productive ways • Why is there essentially no definitive definition of intelligence in the field of psychology?

3. Intelligence is relative... “Intelligence is a socially constructed concept.…thus is can be culturally specific.” What exactly does this mean?

4. Theories on Intelligence Charles Spearman (1863-1945) • Factor Analysis: A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test. • G factor, or general intelligence(academic smarts) • If you score high on one factor, or cluster (ie verbal intelligence) then you tend to score higher than average on other factors (+correlation between clusters) • “Intelligence refers to a general single ability” • Prediction model for education, vocational levels

5. Theories on Intelligence… L.L. Thurstone (1887-1955) • 56 tests / 7 clusters of primary mental abilities(early theory of multiple intelligences) • Word fluency • Verbal comprehension • Spatial ability • Perceptual speed • Numerical ability • Inductive reasoning • memory

6. Theories on Intelligence Howard Gardner: 1970’s-80’s) • Multiple, independent intelligences(Modern version of Thurstone) valued within different cultures • Basis of theory: • Brain damage cases • Savant Syndrome : Rain Man • Mental handicap, (autism, schizophrenia) but island of brilliance! • 6x more common in males • IQ 40-70 • Examples, p. 9 Myers • Common component: limitless memory

7. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences… • Verbal / linguistic (Mark Twain) • Logical / mathematical (Einstein) • Visual / spatial (Picasso) • Bodily / Kinesthetic (Michael Jordan) • Musical / Rhythmic (Stravinsky) • Interpersonal (MLK) • Intrapersonal (Freud) • Natural (Darwin)

8. Critics of Gardner • So what is the chief criticism of Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory? • “Simply abilities, talents, skills that do not constitute intelligence.”

9. Theories on Intelligence…. • Robert Sternberg • Three major intelligences (Triarchic theory) • Analytical: academic problem-solving (intelligence tests) • Creative: reacting to novel situations / generating novel ideas • Practical Intelligence: everyday tasks (“street smarts”)

10. Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman: Emotional Intelligence (1995) Originally called social intelligence (Gardner’s theories) 4 components of EQ • Perceive • Understand • Manage • Use What’s a better predictor of success, IQ or EQ? Critics argue that Goleman stretched too far- abilities not specifically related to intelligence

11. Creativity and Intelligence • Creativity: The ability to produce novel and valuable ideas. • Small +correlation between intelligence and creativity • Above and below score of 120, correlation shrinks

12. Brain Size and Intelligence • Are people with bigger heads / brains smarter? • +.15 correlation between head size and intelligence scores • +.44 correlation between brain size and IQ

13. Developmental Psych and Intelligence 2 General Categories of Intelligence • Fluid Intelligence • Speedy, abstract reasoning • Peaks in the 20’s • Crystallized Intelligence: • accumulated knowledge, verbal skills • Increases with age

14. Assessing Intelligence Alfred Binet (1857-1911) • Turn of century: France / Compulsory education • Vast diversity / problematic • Binet hired to assess how to meet students’ needs • Founded on idea that intelligence increases with age (maturation, but at slightly different rates) Mental Age • Average performance level of each age (grade) • 10 year old with mental age of 7: Means what? • Used to predict students needs / performance • Not an intelligence test!! Measure to evaluate educational level to facilitate learning

15. Lewis Terman 1877-1956 Stanford Professor • Stanford-Binet IQ Test • Modification of Binet’s work = “intelligence test” • Intelligence is hereditary • Immigration / Industrialization / WWI • Eugenics / Ideology / Racism cloaked by “objectivity” • 1st mass intelligence testing in history

16. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) IQ = Mental Age____X 100 Chronological Age Dominant assessment tool of 1900’s Works well for kids / not adults

17. Intelligence Tests Today • Mental ability score is assessed relative to the average performance of the same age • Average = 100 (average score for age is assigned a 100) • 2/3 of scores fall between 85 and 115

18. Interesting Facts About IQ (Meyers p. 4) • True or False? • Your IQ is completely genetic • Your IQ can change over time. • Staying in school can elevate your IQ (Keep from slipping) • For each year stayed in school, IQ gain of approximately 3.5 points) • IQ is influenced by birth order. • IQ is related to breast feeding. (3- 8 points by age of 3) • IQ evens out with age • Intelligence is plural, not singular. • (general agreement on spatial, verbal, analytical, practical) • Cranial volume is correlated with IQ • Intelligence depends on context. • IQ’s have steadily risen over the last 80 years

19. Modern Tests • Aptitude tests (“ability to learn”) • Used to predict performance (Example?) • Achievement tests • Assess what you have learned (Example?) • SAT: aptitude test? • +.82 correlation with general intelligence scores

20. David Wechsler • WAIS(Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale: • WISC(Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) 7-16 • WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (4!) • WISC • 11 subtests = separate scores for each area (Verbal IQ and Performance IQ) • Excellent tool for identifying learning disorders

21. WISC

22. What does “Standardized” Test mean? • Test items have been piloted on similar population of people as those who will take the test • Achievement norms have been established • Psychometrics: making / assessing tests

23. Standardized tests must have… Reliability: Consistency of test as a means of measurement (consistency of scores) • Test-Retest • Split-Half Reliability: Randomly divide test in two ½’s- correlate performance on two ½’s • Equivalent Form Reliability: different forms of test • Goal is +1

24. Standardized tests must have… Validity: When a test measures what it is supposed to measure • Content validity (Drivers license test, course exam) • Criterion Related Validity • Concurrent validity: measures current skill or knowledge • Predictive validity: measure of future performance

25. Wechsler Intelligence Score

26. The Flynn Effect • IQ Tests have consistently risen over last 80 years • Over 20 countries (20 point rise per generation) • Rise highest in the lowest economic countries • Rising nutrition, educational levels

27. Standardized Tests • Can a test be reliable if it is not valid? • Can a test be valid if it is not reliable?

28. Aptitude Tests • Predictive power is strong from age 6-12 • Weakens in later years • 6-12 = +.60 • SAT = +.50 • GRE = .30 • Why? • Range of students narrow as education / ability level increase

29. True or False? • All tests are exclusive to their objectives. • Are achievement tests influenced by your intelligence? • Are intelligence tests influenced by your educational experience?

30. Dynamics of intelligence • At what age can we begin predicting intelligence? • Four-five (to predict adolescent, adult scores) • At age 7, intelligence scores begin to stabilize • Rule of thumb: consistency of scores increase with age

31. Extremes of Intelligence

32. Genetic Influences on Intelligence

33. Genetic Influences on Intelligence • Genetic influences become more apparent over time

34. Heritability (Review) • Used to explain extent to which genetics influence differences in intelligence (between people) • Never to explain genes influence on intelligence!

35. Nurture and Intelligence • Environment • Interaction • Experiences • Nutrition • Education • Both genes and environment shape intelligence

36. Bias in Testing • When a test is less valid for some groups than for others • Influential Factors • Language • Experiences (cultural and economic) • Schools • Stereotype threat: when students are made to feel stereotype, they score lower

37. One to consider…. • As a parent, your 10 year old child has just taken an IQ test. Would you tell him (or her) his score? Reflect carefully and explain your response.