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 also 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 Learn More about Gardner

9. Existential intelligence The ability to think about the question of life, death and existence.

Sternberg’s Three Aspects of Intelligence Gardner Simplified Creative (generating novel ideas) Analytical (academic problem solving). 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 for future success than IQ

9 Emotional Intelligence: Components ComponentDescription Perceive emotion Recognize emotions in faces, music and stories Understand emotion Predict emotions, how they change and blend Manage emotion Express emotions in different situations Use emotion Utilize emotions to adapt or be creative

10 Emotional Intelligence: Criticism Gardner and others criticize the idea of emotional intelligence and question whether we stretch this idea of intelligence too far when we apply it to our emotions.

11 Intelligence and Creativity Creativity - the ability to produce ideas that are both novel and valuable. It correlates somewhat with intelligence. 1.Expertise: A well-developed knowledge base. 2.Imaginative Thinking: The ability to see things in novel ways. 3.Adventuresome Personality: A personality that seeks new experiences rather than following the pack. 4.Intrinsic Motivation: A motivation to be creative from within. 5.A Creative Environment: A creative and supportive environment allows creativity to bloom.

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 active than lower performing brains (use less glucose). 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). discovering someone’s mental age they can predict future performance. Hoped they could use test to help children, not label them.

Terman and his IQ Test 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? Used Binet’s research to construct 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? then his IQ would be 50!!!!!! If a 60 year old man does as well as an average 30 year old 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. 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. Spilt 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. Criterion related validity

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.

Group Differences in Intelligence Test Scores The Bell curve is different for Whites v. Black. 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 there sole purpose is to discriminate. We have to look at the type of discrimination.