1. ….Then what is intelligence?
Who is your prototype of a highly intelligent person?
Who is your prototype of a person of low intelligence?
….Then what is intelligence?

2. Intelligence: What is it…?
How do we define intelligence?
the ability to gather and use information in productive ways
Why is there essentially no definitive definition of intelligence in the field of psychology?

3. Intelligence is relative...
“Intelligence is a socially constructed concept. …thus is can be culturally specific.”
What exactly does this mean?

4. Theories on Intelligence
Charles Spearman ( )
Factor Analysis: A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test.
G factor, or general intelligence (academic smarts)
If you score high on one factor, or cluster (ie verbal intelligence) then you tend to score higher than average on other factors (+correlation between clusters)
“Intelligence refers to a general single ability”
Prediction model for education, vocational levels

5. Theories on Intelligence…
L.L. Thurstone ( )
56 tests / 7 clusters of primary mental abilities (early theory of multiple intelligences)
Word fluency
Verbal comprehension
Spatial ability
Perceptual speed
Numerical ability
Inductive reasoning
memory

6. Theories on Intelligence
Howard Gardner: 1970’s-80’s)
Multiple, independent intelligences (Modern version of Thurstone) valued within different cultures
Basis of theory:
Brain damage cases
Savant Syndrome : Rain Man
Mental handicap, (autism, schizophrenia) but island of brilliance!
6x more common in males
IQ 40-70
Examples, p. 9 Myers
Common component: limitless memory

7. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences…
Verbal / linguistic (Mark Twain)
Logical / mathematical (Einstein)
Visual / spatial (Picasso)
Bodily / Kinesthetic (Michael Jordan)
Musical / Rhythmic (Stravinsky)
Interpersonal (MLK)
Intrapersonal (Freud)
Natural (Darwin)

8. Critics of Gardner
So what is the chief criticism of Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory?
“Simply abilities, talents, skills that do not constitute intelligence.”

9. Theories on Intelligence….
Robert Sternberg
Three major intelligences (Triarchic theory)
Analytical: academic problem-solving (intelligence tests)
Creative: reacting to novel situations / generating novel ideas
Practical Intelligence: everyday tasks (“street smarts”)

10. Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman: Emotional Intelligence (1995)
Originally called social intelligence (Gardner’s theories)
4 components of EQ
Perceive
Understand
Manage
Use
What’s a better predictor of success, IQ or
EQ?
Critics argue that Goleman stretched too far- abilities not specifically related to intelligence

11. Creativity and Intelligence
Creativity: The ability to produce novel and valuable ideas.
Small +correlation between intelligence and creativity
Above and below score of 120, correlation shrinks

12. Brain Size and Intelligence
Are people with bigger heads / brains smarter?
+.15 correlation between head size and intelligence scores
+.44 correlation between brain size and IQ

13. Developmental Psych and Intelligence
2 General Categories of Intelligence
Fluid Intelligence
Speedy, abstract reasoning
Peaks in the 20’s
Crystallized Intelligence:
accumulated knowledge, verbal skills
Increases with age

14. Assessing Intelligence
Alfred Binet ( )
Turn of century: France / Compulsory education
Vast diversity / problematic
Binet hired to assess how to meet students’ needs
Founded on idea that intelligence increases with age (maturation, but at slightly different rates)
Mental Age
Average performance level of each age (grade)
10 year old with mental age of 7: Means what?
Used to predict students needs / performance
Not an intelligence test!! Measure to evaluate educational level to facilitate learning

15. Lewis Terman 1877-1956 Stanford Professor Stanford-Binet IQ Test
Modification of Binet’s work = “intelligence test”
Intelligence is hereditary
Immigration / Industrialization / WWI
Eugenics / Ideology / Racism cloaked by “objectivity”
1st mass intelligence testing in history

16. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) IQ = Mental Age____ X 100
Chronological Age
Dominant assessment tool of 1900’s
Works well for kids / not adults

17. Intelligence Tests Today
Mental ability score is assessed relative to the average performance of the same age
Average = 100 (average score for age is assigned a 100)
2/3 of scores fall between 85 and 115

18. Interesting Facts About IQ (Meyers p. 4)
True or False?
Your IQ is completely genetic
Your IQ can change over time.
Staying in school can elevate your IQ (Keep from slipping)
For each year stayed in school, IQ gain of approximately 3.5 points)
IQ is influenced by birth order.
IQ is related to breast feeding. (3- 8 points by age of 3)
IQ evens out with age
Intelligence is plural, not singular.
(general agreement on spatial, verbal, analytical, practical)
Cranial volume is correlated with IQ
Intelligence depends on context.
IQ’s have steadily risen over the last 80 years

19. Modern Tests Aptitude tests (“ability to learn”) Achievement tests
Used to predict performance (Example?)
Achievement tests
Assess what you have learned (Example?)
SAT: aptitude test?
+.82 correlation with general intelligence scores

20. David Wechsler WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale:
WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) 7-16
WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (4!)
WISC
11 subtests = separate scores for each area (Verbal IQ and Performance IQ)
Excellent tool for identifying learning disorders

21. WISC

22. What does “Standardized” Test mean?
Test items have been piloted on similar population of people as those who will take the test
Achievement norms have been established
Psychometrics: making / assessing tests

23. Standardized tests must have…
Reliability: Consistency of test as a means of measurement (consistency of scores)
Test-Retest
Split-Half Reliability: Randomly divide test in two ½’s- correlate performance on two ½’s
Equivalent Form Reliability: different forms of test
Goal is +1

24. Standardized tests must have…
Validity: When a test measures what it is supposed to measure
Content validity (Drivers license test, course exam)
Criterion Related Validity
Concurrent validity: measures current skill or knowledge
Predictive validity: measure of future performance

25. Wechsler Intelligence Score

26. The Flynn Effect IQ Tests have consistently risen over last 80 years
Over 20 countries (20 point rise per generation)
Rise highest in the lowest economic countries
Rising nutrition, educational levels

27. Standardized Tests Can a test be reliable if it is not valid?
Can a test be valid if it is not reliable?

28. Aptitude Tests Predictive power is strong from age 6-12
Weakens in later years
6-12 = +.60
SAT = +.50
GRE = .30
Why?
Range of students narrow as education / ability level increase

29. True or False? All tests are exclusive to their objectives.
Are achievement tests influenced by your intelligence?
Are intelligence tests influenced by your educational experience?

30. Dynamics of intelligence
At what age can we begin predicting intelligence?
Four-five (to predict adolescent, adult scores)
At age 7, intelligence scores begin to stabilize
Rule of thumb: consistency of scores increase with age

31. Extremes of Intelligence

32. Genetic Influences on Intelligence

33. Genetic Influences on Intelligence
Genetic influences become more apparent over time

34. Heritability (Review)
Used to explain extent to which genetics influence differences in intelligence (between people)
Never to explain genes influence on intelligence!

35. Nurture and Intelligence
Environment
Interaction
Experiences
Nutrition
Education
Both genes and environment shape intelligence

36. Bias in Testing
When a test is less valid for some groups than for others
Influential Factors
Language
Experiences (cultural and economic)
Schools
Stereotype threat: when students are made to feel stereotype, they score lower

37. One to consider….
As a parent, your 10 year old child has just taken an IQ test. Would you tell him (or her) his score? Reflect carefully and explain your response.