Intelligence

PSS120 Introduction to
Psychology 2
Swinburne University of Technology

Learning Objectives
1.

To define the broad concept of intelligence

2.

To describe the key aspects of the following measures

of intelligence: Binets scale,
Wechsler intelligence
Presentation
prepared
scales, Spearmans two-factor theory of intelligence

by

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

3.

To understand approaches to intelligence

(psychometric approach, the information-processing
approach and the contemporary theories of practical
and multiple intelligences)

4.

To understand the possible influence of heredity factors

and personality attributes on intelligence

The Nature of Intelligence(s)

Intelligence is multifaceted: Can be expressed in
one or more domains
Intelligence is functional: Directed at solving
Presentation prepared by
problems or accomplishing a task
Intelligence is defined and shaped by culture.
Dr Janet
Dickson
Intelligence can be defined
as the application
of
cognitive skills and knowledge
to learn,
solve
Swinburne
University
problems and obtain endsof
that
are valued by an
Technology
individual or culture.

Intelligence Testing
Psychometric approach: devise tests to measure a
persons cognitive level relative to others in a
population
Presentation prepared by
First popularised by Sir Francis Galton
Mass testing at an exposition
Dr Janet
Dickson
Galton devised correlation
procedure
to
examine relation
between simple
measures
Swinburne
University
of intelligence
of Technology
Simple measures of intelligence did not
correlate with social class or anything else

Intelligence Testing
Binet and Simon devised a test to measure
intellectual development in children
Devised mental age concept:
MA = average
age by
at
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prepared
which children achieve an actual score
An intellectually impaired
wouldDickson
not be able
Drchild
Janet
to answer questions typical for their chronological
Swinburne
University
age (e.g., a seven-year-old who could only answer
of Technology
questions typical of a five-year-old)

Binets Scale
Believed that a true measure of intelligence is an
individuals performance on complex tasks of
memory, judgement, and comprehension
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Concept of mental age (MA) developed to express
a childs level of intellectual development
Janet
Dickson
Mental Age (MA) is theDr
average
age at
which
children achieve a particular
score University
Swinburne
Chronological Age needs of
to be
considered
Technology

Intelligence Quotient
To allow for comparison of test scores among
persons, Terman devised the concept of
intelligence quotient (IQ):
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IQ = (MA/CA) x 100

Dr Janet Dickson
MA = mental age Swinburne University
CA = chronological age of Technology

Wechsler Intelligence Scales

Attempted to remove the biases associated with
earlier intelligence tests (i.e., bias toward nativeEnglish speakers)
Presentation prepared by
IQ is measured on a number of subtests which
distinguish between
Dr
Janet
Dickson
Verbal Intelligence
Swinburne University
Non-verbal Intelligence
of Technology
Wechsler scales allow psychologists
to identify
areas of strength and weakness within individuals.

Wechsler Intelligence Scales

Presentation prepared by

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

Frequency Distribution
of IQ Scores

Presentation prepared by

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

Extremes of Intelligence Intellectual

Impairment
Significantly below average general intellectual
functioning
IQ less than 70
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Deficits appear in more than one domain
May be genetic in origin:
Syndrome
DrDown
Janet
Dickson
May be biological inSwinburne
origin: Phenylketonuria
University
May be environmental inof
origin:
Exposure to
Technology
teratogens (e.g., Foetal Alcohol Syndrome)

Extremes of Intelligence Giftedness and

Creativity
Can reflect academic, musical, social or athletic
ability
Often associated withPresentation
an IQ of over 130
(in
prepared
by
Western countries)
Creativity: the ability toDr
produce
valued
outcomes
Janet
Dickson
in a novel way; moderately correlated with IQ
Swinburne University
Creativity may be measured through divergent
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thinking: the ability to generate
multiple
possibilities in a given situation.

Validity and Reliability of IQ Tests

Validity reflects a tests ability to assess the
construct it was designed to measure.
IQ test scores predict
ability to succeed
in by
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prepared
school (valid use)
Reliability reflects a tests
to produce
Drability
Janet
Dickson
consistent results.
Swinburne University
Tests of intelligence have high reliability (e.g.,
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even over three-year periods
during childhood
WISC-IV scores remain stable)

Criticisms of IQ Tests
Lack of a theoretical basis (no underlying construct was
used to devise tests)
Focus on cognitive domains
while ignoring
creativity,
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prepared
by
working memory, etc
Does not measure practical
Drintelligence
Janet Dickson
Cultural bias
Swinburne University
Scores depend on language,
experiences
ofcultural
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Biased towards Western, white,
middle-class education system

Eliminating Cultural Anomalies in Intelligence

Testing
Culture free tests have been explored in relation
to intelligence.
A culture fair test was
attempted toprepared
include by
Presentation
items that would measure common skills and
knowledge across cultures.
Dr Janet Dickson
Limited success (cultural backgrounds of test
Swinburne
University
developers, as well as those of test takers, would
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have an influence)
Intelligence tests need to be considered within a
culture.

Approaches to Intelligence
Psychometric approach: tries to identify groups of
items in a test that correlate highly with each
other in order to discover
underlyingprepared
skills or by
Presentation
abilities
Information-processing approach: examines the
Dr Janet Dickson
mental processes that underlie intelligent
Swinburne University
behaviour
ofargue
Technology
Contemporary approaches:
that intelligence
is a function of multiple systems

The Psychometric Approach

The Gf-Gc theory is a hierarchical model with
specific factors embedded in more general
factors:
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Fluid intelligence refers to mental processes
used in processing information and
Dr Janet Dickson
approaching novel problems rather than
Swinburne
specific information
(declines withUniversity
age)
Technology
Crystallised intelligenceof
refers
to a persons
knowledge base (increases with age)

Intelligence and Age

Presentation prepared by

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

The Information-Processing Approach

Examine the processes that underlie intelligent
behaviour rather than quantify basic abilities
Speed of processing:
how rapidly aprepared
person canby
Presentation
perform a mental task; strongly correlated with
IQ
Dr Janet Dickson
Knowledge base: information stored in longSwinburne
University
term memory
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Ability to acquire and apply
mental processes:
can a person acquire and use new mental
strategies?

The Information-Processing Approach

People have different
degrees of ability,
and hence fall on
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different points of
multiple bell-shaped
Dr Janet Dickson
curves on various
Swinburne University
components of
information
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processing.

Contemporary Approaches
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence (Sternberg)
Experiential intelligence: coping with novel
situations and learning new responses
Presentation
Contextual intelligence: judging
the mostprepared by
effective approach in the given context
Componential intelligence:Dr
ability
to putDickson
Janet
together the mental processing components
Swinburne University
needed when problem-solving

of Technology

Contemporary Approaches
Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)
Musical
Bodily/kinesthetic Presentation prepared by
Spatial
Dr Janet Dickson
Verbal/linguistic
Swinburne University
Logical/mathematical
Intra-personal (self-understanding)
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Social

Heredity and Intelligence

Impact of the environment on IQ. The figure
shows the correlation between number of risk
factors and child IQ at
ages four andprepared
13.
Presentation
by

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

Individual Differences in IQ
Asks whether genetic variation can explain
variation in IQ scores.
Twin studies compare
IQ scores inprepared
MZ and DZby
Presentation
twins.
Adoption studies compare similarity of IQ
Dr
Janet
Dickson
scores of adopted children with adopted family
Swinburne
University
and with biological
family.
Nature and nurture interact
complex ways and
of inTechnology
both play a role in individual differences in IQ.

Nature vs. Nurture in IQ

The below table summarises the results from family
studies comparing IQs among multiple pairs of
individuals, contrasting Presentation
the degree of relatedness
prepared with
by
correlation of intelligence scores.

Dr Janet Dickson
Swinburne University
of Technology

Group Differences in IQ
Is there a genetic component that would explain
group differences in IQ scores?
Indigenous Australians
score lowerprepared
on
Presentation
by
IQ tests than White Australians
Poverty
Dr Janet Dickson
Education
Swinburne University
Test-taking attitudesof
(shaped
by generations
Technology
of discrimination)
Culture, custom and lifestyle differences

Chapter 9 - Intelligence
Summary:
Intelligence is the application of cognitive skills and
knowledge to learn, solvePresentation
problems and gain
access to
prepared
by
things valued.

Dr Janet
Dickson
Intelligence tests are psychometric
instruments
that
Swinburne
University
aim to assess cognitive ability.
IQ tests are
highly
correlated with educational success
but are critiqued
of Technology
for a lack of theoretical underpinning, cultural bias and
limited scope.