Intelligence What makes us smart? Or not so smart? DO NOW: PLEASE Take the Intelligence Test on Handout 9-C

Objectives: Student will: be able to compare and contrast perspectives on intelligence learn the history of how intelligence was measured in the past consider key issues in intelligence research how intelligence is measured today.

What is Intelligence? Best definition – the ability to learn from one’s experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively in adapting to new situations or solving problems. Fluid versus Crystallized Intelligence – two types of intelligence, one is a continuous flowing fluid and the other is an intelligence from experiences of life. 4 main theoretical concepts of intelligence….

Charles Spearman and his G factor Used factor analysis and discovered that what we see as many different skills is actually one General Intelligence. If you are good at one subject you are usually good at many others.

Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences believed there are at least 8 different types of intelligences. 1.Linguistic 2.Logical-mathematical 3.Body-kinesthetic 4.Visual- Spatial 5.Musical 6.Intrapersonal 7.Interpersonal 8.Naturalist Later Added: 9.Existentialist – ability to see the big picture, ask questions about life, death, the reality of human existence. at An Personal inventory type test

Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic Theory Most commonly accepted theory today. Three types of intelligence 1.Analytical 2.Creative 3.Practical

Goleman and his EQ Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Can manage their emotions in ways that allow them to get along well with others. Can face set-backs without losing their motivation or optimism. Have high social skills. Maybe EQ is a better predictor for future success than IQ.

Brain Function and Intelligence Higher performing brains are less active than lower performing brains (use less glucose). Long-term potentiation, Neurological speed is also a bit quicker.

How do we Assess Intelligence? Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon set out to figure out a concept called a mental age (what a person of a particular age should know). They discovered that someone’s mental age might help predict future performance. Those with higher mental age, learn faster. Hoped they could use test to help children, not label them.

Terman and his IQ Test Used Binet’s research to construct the modern day IQ test called the Stanford- Binet Test. IQ=Mental age/Chronological age X 100. A 8 year old has a mental age of 10, what is 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?

Problems with the IQ Formula It does not really work well on adults, why? then his IQ would be 50!!!!!! If a 60 year old man does as well as an average 35 year old That makes no sense!!!!!

Take an Standford-Binet Test

Wechsler Tests More common way to give IQ tests….does not use the formula but uses the same scoring system and developed age specific tests WAIS – Adult test WISC – children and young adults – (several versions) WPPSI- primary children

Normal Distribution This curve represents the frequency of different scores people get when they take the Wechsler IQ test.

The highest part of the curve represents the mean, or the average of the test taker’s scores. The average score(mean) is around 100. The lower the curve, the lower the number of people who will have that score. (For example, there are about 2% that will score higher than 130(gifted), and about 2% that will score lower than 70(Mental retardation-developmentally delayed.) above 130(geniuses The % in each section represent the % of scores falling within that section. (For example there are 68% people that score between 85 and 115.) The standard deviation(SD)– the average variation from the mean score. (95% of people will score two SDs from the mean, or will make a score between 70 to 130)

Extremes of Intelligence Chris Burke – actor Akrit Jaswal – a adolescent who is a child prodigy as a surgeon. He performed his first surgery at the age of seven.

The Flynn Effect

The Flynn effect is the substantial and long- sustained increase in intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world from roughly 1930 to the present day. Are people getting smarter? Or are people learning to take test better? It is a Controversial topic.

How do we construct an Intelligence Test? Standardized: the questions have been piloted on similar populations and the scores fall on a normal distribution. Reliable: Test-Retest, repeatable. Validity: Content, Predictive or Construct. Testing what it says it is testing.

Types of Tests Aptitude Measure ability or potential. Achievement Tests that measure what you have learned.

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.