Module 2:Booklet 1

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/intro-to-intelligence.html#lesson (4:46)

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/biological-bases-of-intelligence.html#lesson (3:12)

Intelligence: the ability to acquire new ideas and new behavior, and to adapt to new situations.

Not all psychologists agree on this definition:

- Some think it is what allows you to do well on

intelligence tests and in school.

There are many theories of intelligence...◦ We will look at three…

Developed by psychologist Howard Gardner in 1983 (Harvard University professor)

He rejected the traditional idea of intelligence as primarily the ability to think logically and believes that there are many other important skills that should be included.

He believes that there are 8 types of intelligence:

Linguistic/verbal

Logical-

mathematical

Spatial

Musical

Body-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Naturalist

He is thinking of adding a ninth intelligence, existential intelligence (knowledge for spiritual and divine issues)

He believes that the biological organization of the brain affects one’s strength in each of the eight areas.

Critics say these “intelligences” are just really skills and that talent and intelligence are different things.

Developed by Robert Sternberg in 1985

He proposed a triarchic theory of intelligence:

◦ Analytical

Using analytical thinking skills or the ability to solve problems

Traditionally measured on intelligence tests

◦ Creative

Applying creative thinking to solving problems and the ability to deal with new situations

◦ Practical

Using practical thinking skills to help adjust and cope with one’s environment

He stresses the point that traditional intelligence tests do not measure and assess intelligences found in everyday life

Problem with his theory: Like Gardner’s theory, it difficult to measure intelligence, at least with traditional types of measurements.

Related to Gardner’s concepts of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences.

John Mayer and Peter Salovey, 1997

Has 4 major aspects:

◦ The ability to perceive and express emotions accurately and appropriately

◦ The ability to use emotions while thinking

◦ The ability to understand emotions and use the knowledge effectively

◦ The ability to regulate one’s emotions to promote personal growth

Some have linked emotional intelligence to success in the workplace

Some argue that it is only a measurement of extroversion (outgoing)

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/multiple-intelligences.html#lesson (5:48)

Sir Francis Galton: developed the first modern intelligence tests (1883)

- 4 things his test included: It measured muscle strength, the size of people’s heads, reaction time, and various thresholds.

- his conclusion: From his tests, he proposed that intelligence was completely inherited.

Eugenics is the belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population◦ Ex. Holocaust

Main Idea: Several IQ tests are used to measure intelligence, although there are many views about what constitutes intelligence.

Designed to assess cognitive abilities

IQ for short

Standardized measure of intelligence based on a scale in which 100 is average

There are various tests used to measure IQ:

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: (Alfred Binet)◦ Groups test items by age level

◦ IQ computed by dividing a child’s mental age (the average age of those who also received the same score as the child) by their actual age and multiplying by 100

◦ IQ = mental age X 100

actual age

◦ Now test scores for several

abilities are reported instead of

one general score

◦ Mainly used with children

Wechsler Intelligence Tests: (David Wechsler)

◦ Yields percentile scores in several areas:

- Vocabulary - Information

- Arithmetic - Picture Arrangement

- And more....

◦ Ratings are used to compute separate IQ scores for verbal and performance abilities.

◦ Provides a more detailed picture of the individual’s strengths and weaknesses than a single score does.

The most frequently used IQ tests! (with adults)

Norms for intelligence tests are established in such a way that most people scores near 100.

95% of people score between 70-130

Only a little more than 2% of people

score at or above 130

Those who score below 70 have

traditionally been classified as

mentally challenged

Most useful when related to school achievement as they are quite accurate in prediction which people do well in schools, colleges, and universities.

Critics accept this but wonder where such tests actually measure intelligence.

Is success in school or the ability to take a test indication of such ability?

IQ measures performance, it does not explain it

There are a few arguments:

Nature vs. Nurture:

- Do genetic differences or environmental inequalities cause two people to receive different scores?

- To help answer this, researchers have studied the results of testing people with varying degrees of genetic relationship.

- Have found a high degree of heritability (as genetic relationship increases the similarity of IQ also increases)

- The richness of the home environment, the

quality of food, and the number of brothers

and sisters in the family all affect IQ.

- Conclusion: Both heredity and environment

have an impact on intelligence

Cultural Bias:

◦ The wording used in questions may be more familiar to people of one social group than to another group.

-Example:

The correct response to the following question, “What would you do if you were sent to buy a loaf of bread and the grocer said he did not have any more?” is “Try another store”. A significant proportion of minority students questioned responded that they would go home. When questioned about the answer, many explained the there was not other store in the neighbourhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0xtJxf75ME (0:51)

Main Idea: Psychologists have developed tests to assess special abilities and experiences.

Estimates the probability that a person will be successful in learning a specific new skill.

Assesses primarily in terms of their predictive validity.

Various types:◦ Differential Aptitude Test (DATE)

- measures specific abilities such as clerical speed &mechanical reasoning as well as general academic ability

◦ General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) Most widely used

Composed of 9 different tests from vocabulary to manual dexterity

◦ SAT and ACT (American College Test)

Designed to predict a student’s success in college

EXAMPLE. What is the missing number? 1 4 9 ? 25

Measures how much a person has learned in a

given subject or area.

Measures how much a person has already learned in a particular area

Validated in terms of their content validity (how well they measure students’ mastery of a set of knowledge.

Now have adapted tests with computers:

◦ The order of questions is changed by the computer as it adapts the test to the individual's performance

◦ If you answer several questions correctly the computer will challenges you with more difficulty questions

◦ If you answer several questions incorrectly will get easier questions

◦ More accurate than standard testing, especially when takers are with very high or very low in ability

◦ EXAMPLE

Measures a person’s preferences, attitudes and interests in certain activities

There are no right or wrong answers

Compare the test taker’s responses to the responses given by people in clearly defined groups

The purpose of these measures is to help people find the career that is right for them, but should not be used as the only source of information of basing that decision

EXAMPLE

Psychology – Intelligence (13:51):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCWSb2HsXxc

Part 2(13:44): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg-Wdhv3tV8&feature=relmfu

REMOVED FEB 22nd