APPROACHES TO

STUDY
INTELLIGENCE
 Types of approaches to study
intelligence
There are two types of approaches to study intelligence:

Psychometric/Structural Approach

Information Processing Approach

 PSYCHOMETRIC/ STRUCTURAL INFORMATION PROCESSING
APPROACH APPROACH

 It considers intelligence as an aggregate of  It emphasizes on distinct types of intelligence. It

abilities also describes the processes people use in
intellectual reasoning and problem solving

 It expresses individual’s performance in terms of  It focuses on how an intelligent person acts,

single index. It also focuses on knowing the emphasizes studying cognitive function
structure of intelligence. underlying intelligent behaviour.
 PSYCOMETRIC/ STRUCTURAL
APPROACH
1. UNI/ONE FACTOR THEORY (ALFRED BINET)

Alfred Binet conceptualized intelligence as consisting of one similar set of abilities which can be used for
solving all problems in an individuals life. This theory is called uni or one factor theory of intelligence.

2. TWO FACTOR THEORY (CHARLES SPEARMAN)

This method was introduced by employing a statistical method called factor analysis.
• Charles Spearman said that intelligence consisted a general factor and a specific factor.
• The g-factor includes mental operations which are primary and common to all performances whereas
the s-factor is not common and helps individual to excel in a particular field.
3. THEORY OF PRIMARY MENTAL ABILITIES (LOUIS THURSTON)

This theory states that intelligence consists of seven primary abilities. Each ability is relatively
independent from the others. The 7 abilities are:
i) Verbal comprehensive v) Word fluency
ii) Numerical abilities vi) Memory
iii) Spatial relations vii) Inductive reasoning
iv) Perceptual speed

4. Arthur Jensen proposed a hierarchical model of intelligence consisting of abilities

operating at two levels.
LEVEL 1: associate learning in which output is more or less similar to the input.
LEVEL 2: it is called the cognitive competence and involves high order skills as they transform the
input to produce an effective output.
5. STRUCTURE OF INTELLECT MODEL (J.P. GUILFORD)

He classified intellectual traits among three dimensions:- operations, contents and products.
Operations: refer to what the respondent does e.g. memorization of a poem.

Contents: refer to the nature of materials or information on which the intellectual operations are
performed e.g. poem is familiar or unfamiliar etc.

Products: refer to the form in which the information is processed by the respondent e.g.
understanding and application of the theme of poem.
 INFORMATION PROCESSING
APPROACH
HOWARD GARDNER’S THEORY is based on information processing approach. It functions on 3
basic principles:
i. Intelligence is not a single entity, there exist multiple intelligences
ii. The intelligences are independent from each other
iii. Different types if intelligences work together to provide a solution of a problem.
Gardner so far proposed 8 intelligences, however all individuals do not posses them in equal
proportions, the situation decides the prominence of one type of intelligence over the others.
These 8 intelligences are:
i) Linguistic v) Bodily kinesthetics
ii) Logical mathematical vi) Inter-personal
iii) Spatial vii) Intra-personal
iv) Musical viii) Naturalistic
1. Linguistic: This is related to reading, writing, listening, talking, understanding etc. Poets exhibit this
ability better than others.
2. Logical Mathematic: This deals with abstract reasoning and manipulation of symbols involved in
numerical problems.
3. Spatial: It is involved in perceiving third dimensional formation of images. It is used in navigating in
space, forming, transforming and using mental images. Sailors, engineers, surgeons, pilots etc.
have highly developed spatial intelligence.
4. Musical: Persons with musical intelligence show sensitivity to pitch and tone required for singing,
playing an instrument, composing and appreciating music etc.
5. Bodily Kinaesthetic: It requires the skill and dexterity for fine coordinated motor movements, such
as those required for dancing, athletics, surgery, craft making etc.
6. Inter-personal: It requires understanding of motives and feelings and behaviours of other people.
Sales person, politicians, teachers, clinicians and religious readers gave high degree of inter-
personal intelligence.
7. Intra-personal: It is related to understanding one’s self and developing a sense of identities.
Philosophers and spiritual leaders are some of the examples.
8. Naturalistic: It is related to recognising the flora and fauna. It is more possessed by hunters,
farmers, tourists, students of biological sciences etc.
TRIARCHIC THEORY OF INTELLIGENCE was proposed by ROBERT STERNBERG.
Sternberg defined intelligence as the ability to adapt, to shape and select environment to
accomplish one’s goals and those of one’s society and culture.

According to him there are three types of intelligence:

1. Componential Intelligence (analytic): This dimension specifies cognitive processes that
underline an intelligent behaviour. This dimension serves 3 functions:
i) Knowledge acquisition components: These are the processes used in learning, encoding etc.
ii) Metacomponents: ‘meta’ means higher. These are executive processes. They control, monitor
and evaluate cognitive processing.
iii) Performance components: These components execute strategies prepared by
metacomponents to perform a task. For example: while studying students plan the lesson
chapter wise, they make schedules, categorize the learning material and do integrate the
information to comprehend well.
2. Experiential Intelligence (creative): This dimension specifies how experiences effect
intelligence and how intelligence effects a person’s experiences. This intelligence refers to an
individual’s ability to make use of one’s past experiences to deal with novel situations
creatively and effectively. This intelligence is mostly high among scientists and creative
people.

3. Contextual intelligence (practical): This dimension species the ability to deal with environment
demands on daily basis. The ability of an individual to make use of his/her potential to deal
with day-to-day life is called street smartness or business sense. People high in this ability are
successful in life. This intelligence deals with the way people handle effectively their
environment and adapt to different contexts with available resources.