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Intelligence and Mental Ability. What is intelligence. a. Cognitive abilities that promote learning and adaptive behavior . b. mental abilities cannot be studied directly c. This is why intelligence tests were created. Intelligence tests.
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a. Cognitive abilities that promote learning and adaptive behavior. b. mental abilities cannot be studied directly c. This is why intelligence tests were created.
Intelligence tests • designed to measure a person's general mental abilities. • Problem: No one can agree on a single definition of intelligence. • Non experts include social competence in their concepts of intelligence, whereas experts put more emphasis on motivation.
Theories of Intelligence • Binet-Simon Scale-verbal reasoning, abstract/visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and short-term memory. • Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III)-measures both verbal and performance abilities • Group Tests (SAT)
A. Reliability-the ability of a test to produce consistent and stable scores. B. Validity-is the ability of a test to measure what it has been designed to measure.
Criticism A. Critics point out that most intelligence tests are concerned with only a narrow set of skills . B. content and administration of IQ tests are shaped by the values of Western middle-class society. C. results are often used to label some students as slow learners. D. do not offer information on motivation, emotion, attitudes, and other similar factors that may have a strong bearing on a person's success in school and in life.
Gender A. women and men do not differ significantly in general intelligence as measured by scores on standardized tests.
Academic Performance: The Influence of Culture • Big difference in American and Asian students in math and reading • Why? (1) the educational curricula (2) American students attribute academic success to ability, and Asian students, who believe success comes more from individual effort and hard work.
Heredity • Environment
Mental retardation and Giftedness • Mental Retardation- condition of significantly subaverage intelligence combined with deficiencies in adaptive behavior. • Giftedness-superior IQ combined with demonstrated or potential ability in academic aptitude, creativity, leadership, and fine arts.