Psychology 102: Intelligence & intelligence assessment

Welcome to Psychology 102

Psychology 102:
Intelligence & Intelligence Assessment

Dr James NeillCentre for Applied PsychologyUniversity of Canberra2009

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/3191664147/Image by: Kevin Dooley, http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/Image license: CC-by-A 2.0, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.enAcknowledgements: This lecture is based on Psychology 102 2008 lecture notes in part developed by Dr. Melissa Feeney and Dr. Diana Grace and the instructor slides and material provided by Pearson Education for Chapter 9 from Gerrig et al. (2008) Psychology and life (Australian edition).

Reading

Gerrig et al. (Chapter 9):
Intelligence and Intelligence Assessment

Image source: Cover of Gerrig et al. (2008)

What is intelligence?

History of intelligence testing

Features of good or bad tests (psychometrics)

Cultural and social background on intelligence test performance

Intelligence, creativity and mental illness

Overview

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Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autoroute_icone.svgLicense: CC-BY-A 2.5Author: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Doodledoo

What is intelligence?


What is cognition?

The process and content of knowing, including thinking, remembering, and communicating.

Cognitive Psychology

Intelligence as an
individual difference

Intelligence and personality
are the most ubiquitous
individual differences
(e.g., commonly measured)

Individual differences =
stable human psychological characteristics which vary between people

Abstract thinking ability
(Terman, 1921)Capacity for knowledge and knowledge possessed
(Henmon, 1921)Capacity to learn from experience
(Dearborn, 1921)

Many definitions of intelligence

"The capacity to acquire capacity."
(Woodrow, 1921)Ability to adapt to the environment.
(Colvin, cited in Sternberg, 1982)a general factor that runs through all types of performance."
(Jensen)


"A global concept that involves an individual's ability to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with the environment."
(Wechsler, 1958)


"ability to solve problems, or to create products, that are valued within one or more cultural settings
( Gardner, 1983/2003, p. x)"


"The global capacity to profit from experience and to go beyond given information about the environment
(Gerrig et al., 2008)


History of intelligence assessment


Differences are quantifiable

Differences form a normal distribution

Measured by objective tests

Statistically determined by correlations

Galtons ideas of intelligence

Galtons controversially postulated

Genetic superiority and inferiority

Started Eugenics movement

Galtonian view

Galtons ideas of intelligence

Alfred Binet & Thophile SimonMental age(MA)

Chronological age(CA)

Lewis TermanStanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

The origins of intelligence testing

Alfred Binet and his colleague Thodore Simon practiced a more modern form of intelligence testing by developing questions that would predict childrens future progress in the Paris school system.

Alfred Binet

In the US, Terman adapted Binets test the Stanford-Binet Test.

Terman used Sterns formula for Intelligence Quotient (IQ):

Assessing intelligence:
Lewis Terman

Intelligence Quotient

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test

Wechsler Intelligence ScalesVerbal subtests

Performance subtestsWAIS -3, WISC-4, WPPSI - 3

IQ and IQ Tests

Interpreting scores:
The normal curve

Intelligence scores become stable after about seven years of age. In numerous studies, stability of intelligence scores have been determined (Angoff, 1988; Deary et al., 2004).

Stability or Change?

Recent studies indicate some correlation (~ .40) between brain size and intelligence. As brain size decreases with age, scores on verbal intelligence tests also decrease.

Is intelligence neurologically measurable?

Features of Formal Assessment of Intelligence


Use of specified procedures to evaluate abilities, behaviours, and personal qualities

Referred to as the measurement of individual difference'

Psychological assessment: What is it?

Systematic procedures and measurement used to assess individuals functioning, aptitudes, abilities and mental states.

Three requirementsReliability

Validity

Standardisation

Features of formal assessment

Reliability is the stability or consistency of scores produced by an instrument

Measured over time and space

Concept of reliability

Types of reliability

Test-retest ReliabilityTest on two occasions

Measured by a correlation

Parallel FormsDifferent versions of a test

Internal ConsistencySimilar scores across different parts

Split-half ReliabilityOdd vs even numbers on test

Time 1 Time 2Form A Form B

1, 3, 5, 7 = 2, 4, 6, 8 =

Concept of validity

Extent to which a test measures what it was intended to measure

Face validity: Surface content matches

Criterion/Predictive Validity: A standard e.g. your uni entry score

Construct Validity: Measures the construct (e.g., depression)

NormsStandards based on measurements of a large group of people

Used to compare

StandardisationUniform procedures for treating each participant in a test, interview or in research

Norms and standardisation

Extremes of intelligence?


Normal curve

Standardized tests establish a normal distribution of scores on a tested population in a bell-shaped pattern called the normal curve.

Extremes of intelligence

A valid intelligence test divides two groups of people into two extremes: the mentally retarded (IQ 70) and individuals with high intelligence (IQ 135). These two groups are significantly different.

Intellectual disabilityOnset before 18 years old

IQ of below 70 to 75

Limitations in 2+ adaptive life skills

Learning disordersLarge discrepancy between an individual's measured IQ and achievement

Extremes of intelligence

Intellectual disability

Intellectually disabled people required constant supervision a few decades ago, but with a supportive family environment and special education they are more able to care for themselves.

Intellectual disability

IQ score above 130Joseph RenzulliThree-ring conceptionAbility

Creativity

Task commitment

Intellectual giftedness

Contrary to popular belief, people with high intelligence test scores tend to be healthy, well adjusted, and unusually successful academically.

High intelligence

Theories of intelligence


Psychometrics = science of mental testing

Statistical relationships (factor analysis)

Charles SpearmanSpearmans g

Raymond CattellCrystallised and Fluid Intelligence

Psychometric
theories of intelligence

The idea that general intelligence (g) exists comes from the work of Charles Spearman (1863-1845).

Spearman proposed that general intelligence (g) is linked to many clusters than can be analysed by factor analysis.

For example, people who do well on vocabulary tests do well on paragraph comprehension tests, a cluster that helps define verbal intelligence.

Other factors include spatial ability and reasoning ability.

The idea that general intelligence (g) exists comes from the work of Charles Spearman (1863-1945) who helped develop the factor analysis approach in statistics.

Spearman proposed that general intelligence (g) is linked to many clusters that can be analyzed by factor analysis.e.g., people who do well on vocabulary examinations do well on paragraph comprehension examinations, a cluster that helps define verbal intelligence. Other factors include a spatial ability factor, or a reasoning ability factor.

General Intelligence

The idea that general intelligence (g) exists comes from the work of Charles Spearman (1863-1845).

Spearman proposed that general intelligence (g) is linked to many clusters than can be analysed by factor analysis.

For example, people who do well on vocabulary tests do well on paragraph comprehension tests, a cluster that helps define verbal intelligence.

Other factors include spatial ability and reasoning ability.

The idea that general intelligence (g) exists comes from the work of Charles Spearman (1863-1945) who helped develop the factor analysis approach in statistics.

General intelligence

Thurstone, a critic of Spearmans g, suggested seven clusters of PRIMARY MENTAL ABILITIES:Word Fluency

Verbal Comprehension

Spatial Ability

Perceptual Speed

Numerical Ability

Inductive Reasoning

Memory

Content

Product

Operation

Guilford's
structure of the intellect

Wechsler developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and later the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), an intelligence test for preschoolers.

David Wechsler

WAIS measures overall intelligence and 11 related aspects to assess clinical and educational problems.

David Wechsler

Analytical intelligenceBasic information processing skills

Creative intelligenceAbility to deal with novel versus routine problems

Practical intelligenceAbility to adapt to different contexts, and to select and shape contexts

Robert Sternberg's
Triarchic Theory

Sternberg (1985, 1999, 2003) agrees with Gardner, but suggests 3 intelligences:Analytical Intelligence Intelligence that is assessed by intelligence testsCreative Intelligence Intelligence that allows us to adapt to novel situations and generate novel ideas.Practical Intelligence Intelligence that is required for everyday tasks.

Gardner (1983, 1999) supports Thurstones idea that intelligence comes in multiple forms.

Gardner noted that brain damage may diminish one type of ability but not others e.g., savants.

Howard Gardners
Theory of Multiple Intelligences

8 types of intelligence - speculates about a 9th existential intelligence = ability to think about the question of life, death and existence.

Logical-mathematical, linguistic, naturalist, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal (emotional)

Howard Gardners

Howard Gardners

Theories of intelligence

What does intelligence influence?


Brain function

Studies of brain functions show that people who score high on intelligence tests perceive stimuli faster, retrieve information from memory quicker, and show faster brain response times.

Aptitude tests are intended to predict your ability to learn a new skill and achievement tests are intended to reflect what you have already learned.

Aptitude and achievement tests

What influences intelligence?


In the past 60 years, intelligence scores have risen steadily by an average of 27 points.

Flynn Effect

Schooling is an experience that pays dividends, which is reflected in intelligence scores. Increased schooling correlates with higher intelligence scores.

Schooling effects

5 minute break have a stretch

Image source: Unknown (Vanags, 2008)

Intelligence:
Issues and Controversies


Despite general agreement among psychologists about the nature of intelligence, two controversies remain:Is intelligence a single overall ability or is it several specific abilities?

With modern neuroscience techniques, can we locate and measure intelligence within the brain?

Controversies about intelligence

History of Group Comparisons

Heredity and IQ

Heritability

The politics of intelligence

Environments and IQJudith Kearins series of studies: No single explanation for behaviour

Culture and the validity of IQ testsGraham ChaffeyInvisible underachievers

Claude SteeleStereotype threat (vulnerability)

Harold StevensonHard work versus innate ability


No other topic in psychology is so passionately followed as the one that asks the question, Is intelligence due to genetics or environment?


Studies of twins, family members, and adopted children together support the idea that there is a significant genetic contribution to intelligence.


Two disturbing but agreed upon facts:Racial groups differ in their average intelligence scores.

High-scoring people (and groups) are more likely to attain high levels of education and income.

Group differences in IQ scores

If we look at racial differences, white Americans score higher in average intelligence than black Americans (Avery et al., 1994). European New Zealanders score higher than native New Zealanders (Braden, 1994).

Group differences in IQ scores

White-AmericansBlack-Americans

Average IQ = 100Average IQ = 85

Differences in intelligence among these groups are largely environmental, as if one environment is more fertile in developing these abilities than another.

Environmental effects

Adoption studies

Adopted children show a marginal correlation in verbal ability to their adopted parents.

Adoption studies

Studies of twins and adopted children also show the following:Fraternal twins raised together tend to show similarity in intelligence scores.

Identical twins raised apart show slightly less similarity in their intelligence scores.

Adoption studies

Early neglect from caregivers leads children to develop a lack of personal control over the environment, and it impoverishes their intelligence.

Romanian orphans with minimal human interaction are delayed in their development.

Goal of psychological assessment To make as accurate assessments as possible

Controversial area for psychology

Three ethical concerns Fairness of test-based decisions

Utility of tests for evaluating education

Implications of using test scores to categorise people

Assessment and society

Intelligence and Creativity


Creativity:

Ability to generate ideas or products that are novel and useful to the circumstance

Is creativity linked to intelligence?

Creativity

Intelligence and Creativity

Some correlation with intelligence.

Expertise: A well-developed knowledge base.

Imaginative Thinking: The ability to see things in novel ways.

Adventuresome Personality: Seeks new experiences rather than following the pack.

Intrinsic Motivation: A motivation to be creative from within.

A Creative Environment: A creative and supportive environment allows creativity to bloom.

Divergent Thinking defined

Ability to produce unusual but appropriate responses to problems

Fluid versus flexible thinking

Weak to moderate correlation between IQ and Divergent Thinking

Assessing creativity and the link to intelligence

Exemplary Creator Extraordinary abilities (e.g. Pablo Picasso)

Risk Taking Uncharted Waters

Preparation Acquisition of expertise

Intrinsic Motivation Enjoyment and satisfaction

Extremes of creativity

Gerrig, R. J., Zimbardo, P. G., Campbell, A. J., Cumming, S. R., & Wilkes, F. J. (2008). Psychology and life (Australian edition). Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.

References

Psychology 102: Intelligence & intelligence assessment

Education

Transcript of Psychology 102: Intelligence & intelligence assessment