Intelligence What makes us intelligent Or Not so

Intelligence What makes us intelligent Or Not so intelligent

Intelligence • The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations. • Is socially constructed thus… Can be culturally specific. According to this definition, are both Einstein and Ruth intelligent?

Is intelligence one thing or several different abilities? • To find out scientists use FACTOR ANALYSIS: A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test. • Charles Spearman used FA to discovery his g or (general intelligence). He saw using FA that doing well in one area of a test predicted that you will do well in another.

Multiple Intelligences • Howard Gardner disagreed with Spearman’s g and instead came up with the concept of multiple intelligences. • He came up with the idea by studying savants (a condition where a person has limited mental ability but is exceptional in one area).

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences • • Visual/Spatial Verbal/Linguistic Logical/Mathematical Bodily/Kinesthetic Musical/Rhythmic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Natural

Sternberg’s Three Aspects of Intelligence Gardner Simplified • Analytical (academic problem solving). • Creative (generating novel ideas) • Practical (required for everyday tasks where multiple solutions exist).

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) • First called social intelligence. • The ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions. • Some studies show EQ to be a greater predictor future success than IQ

Brain Size and Intelligence Is there a link? • Small +. 15 correlation between head size and intelligence scores (relative to body size). • Using an MRI we found +. 44 correlation with brain size and IQ score.

Brain Function and Intelligence • Higher performing brains use less glucose than lower performing brains. • Neurological speed is also a bit quicker.

How do we assess Intelligence? • Research began with Francis Galton in the late 1800 s • developed the calculations for correlation coefficients and standard deviation • first to use the survey as a method of data collection • all tests of IQ and mental ability are rooted in his work • founder of eugenics: argued that “eminent” people passed down traits to their offspring and attempted to classify all “superior” traits of human beings (unfortunately, the Nazis later warped these views)

Development of intelligence tests • Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon set out to figure out a concept called mental age (what a person of a particular age should know). • They found that by discovering someone’s mental age, they could predict future performance. • Hoped they could use a test to help children, not label them.

Terman and his IQ Test • An 8 year old has a • Based on Galton’s work mental age of 10; what is and Binet’s research, her IQ? • A 12 year old has the mental age of 9; what is his IQ? • A boy has the mental age of 10 and an IQ of 200; how old is he? Terman constructed the modern day IQ test, called the Stanford-Binet Test. • IQ=Mental age / Chronological age X 100.

Problems with the IQ Formula • It does not really work well on adults - why? If a 60 year old man does as well as an average 30 year old then his IQ would be 50!!!!!! That makes no sense!!!!!

Modern Tests of Mental Abilities • Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) consists of 11 subtests and cues us in to strengths by using…. . Factor Analysis

Aptitude v. Achievement Tests Aptitude • A test designed to predict a person’s future performance. • The ability for that person to learn. • SAT used to be called an aptitude test Achievement • A test designed to assess what a person has learned.

How do we construct Intelligence tests? Tests must be: • Standardized • Reliable • Valid

Standardization • The test must be pre-tested to a representative sample of people and • Form a normal distribution or bell curve

Flynn Effect

Reliability • The extent which a test yields consistent results over time. • Split halves or test–retest method.

Validity The extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure. • Content Validity: does the test sample a behavior of interest? • Predictive Validity: does the test predict future behavior?

Does Intelligence Change Over Time? • By age 3, a child’s IQ can predict adolescent IQ scores. • Depends on the type of intelligence: crystallized or fluid.

Extremes of Intelligence

Group Differences in Intelligence Test Scores • The Bell curve is different for Whites v. African-Americans. • Math scores are different across genders and the highest scores are for Asian males. Why? Nature or Nurture

Test Bias? Tests do discriminate. But some argue that their sole purpose is to discriminate. We have to look at the type of discrimination.