What makes us smart? Or not so smart? Intelligence What makes us smart? Or not so smart?

What is Intelligence? Intelligence ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

Intelligence Test A method of assessing an individual’s mental aptitudes & comparing them to those of others

History of Intelligence Tests Sir Francis Galton: 1st proponent of the idea that one can quantitatively measure people’s mental abilities 19th century English Scientist/Mathematician

History of Intelligence Tests Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon set out to figure out a concept called a mental age the chronological age typical of a given level of performance. They discovered that by discovering someone’s mental age they can predict future performance (in school, work and life). Hoped they could use test to help children, not label them.

Terman and his IQ Test Used Binet’s research about mental age to construct the modern day IQ test called the Stanford-Binet Test. Mental Age IQ = ----------------- X 100 Chronological Age 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?

Origins of Intelligence Testing Intelligence Quotient (IQ) defined originally the ratio of mental age (ma) to chronological age (ca) multiplied by 100 IQ = ma/ca x 100) on contemporary tests, the average performance for a given age is assigned a score of 100

Is Intelligence one general ability or several specific abilities. pg Factor Analysis statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie one’s total score General Intelligence (g) factor that Spearman and others believed underlies specific mental abilities measured by every task on an intelligence test

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.

Are There Multiple Intelligences? Social Intelligence the know-how involved in comprehending social situations and managing oneself successfully Emotional Intelligence ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions

Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic Theory Most commonly accepted theory today. Focuses on only three types of intelligence Analytical (problem solving) Creative Practical P. 425 p.425

Is intelligence solely academic or does intelligences come in various forms?

Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences Gardner believed that intelligences involves several distinct abilities and that intelligence is not just about academic abilities. According to Gardner, there exists at least 8 different types of intelligences.

Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences Linguistic-words Logical-mathematical-reasoning Spatial-images and pictures Musical-rhythms and melodies Body-kinesthetic-somatic sensations Intrapersonal - self Interpersonal – social, connections with others Naturalist-nature p.424

Are There Multiple Intelligences? Savant Syndrome condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill computation /calculation Drawing Musical memory Leslie Lemke, Kim Peeke and Alonzo Clemons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkDMaJ-wZmQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR36jrx_L44 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oZaCrkCxu8&list=PL2B4C43D1D5B24741&index=3

Hmmm… Have you ever pondered how genetics and your environment shaped your intelligence and has contributed to your specific abilities?

Wechsler Tests More common way to give Intelligence tests….does not use the formula but uses the same scoring system. WAIS – adults WISC - children Pg. 433

Assessing Intelligence: Sample Items from the WAIS From Thorndike and Hagen, 1977 VERBAL General Information Similarities Arithmetic Reasoning Vocabulary Comprehension Digit Span PERFORMANCE Picture Completion Picture Arrangement Block Design Object Assembly Digit-Symbol Substitution

Types of Tests Aptitude Achievement Measure ability or potential. Tests that measure what you have learned. p.432

How do we construct an Intelligence Test? Standardization: the questions have been piloted on similar populations and the scores fall on a normal distribution. Reliable: The extent to which a test yields consistent results. Validity: The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to p. 435

The Dynamics of Intelligence low extremes Mental Retardation a condition of limited mental ability indicated by an intelligence score below 70 produces difficulty in adapting to the demands of life varies from mild to profound Down Syndrome retardation and associated physical disorders caused by an extra chromosome in one’s genetic makeup

The Dynamics of Intelligence

Genetic Influences The most genetically similar people have the most similar scores

Does Intelligence Change Over Time? By age 3, a child’s IQ can predict adolescent IQ scores. By age 7, scores begin to stabilize.

Environmental Influences The Schooling Effect

Eugenics Attempts to improve human genetics by encouraging breeding among intellectually superior people

Eugenics

Testing Bias?

Testing Bias?

Goleman and his EQ Emotional Intelligence Interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences. Maybe EQ is a better predictor for future success than IQ.

Modern Intelligence Tests

The Normal Curve

The Flynn Effect