Unit 11

Intelligence: The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use our knowledge to adapt to new situations.

Intelligence test: A method for assessing an individual’s mental aptitudes and comparing them with others using numerical scores.

Charles Spearman: Proposed that general intelligence (g) is linked to many clusters of task-specific abilities or S factors that can be analyzed by factor analysis.

General Intelligence (g): A construct that refers to the idea that a single underlying factor can account for the positive correlations among cognitive abilities.

L.L. Thurstone: Analyzed his subjects not on a single scale of general intelligence, but on seven clusters of primary mental abilities.

Factor analysis: A multivariate statistical method used to evaluate relationships among a set of observed variables.

Howard Gardner: Believes intelligence comes in many forms. He proposes eight types of intelligences and speculates about a ninth, existential intelligence.

Savant syndrome: A condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional, specific skill.

Grit: A personality trait characterized by perseverance and passion for achieving long-term goals.

Robert Sternberg: Suggested three intelligences in his Triarchic Theory: Analytical, Creative, Practical.

Emotional Intelligence: The ability to perceive, understand, and use emotions (Salovey et al., 2005). Popularized by Daniel Goleman.

Francis Galton: Coined eugenics in the 19th century.

Mental age: IQ = mental age / chronological age × 100.

Alfred Binet: Developed questions to predict children's future progress in school.

Lewis Terman: Adapted Binet’s test for U.S. children, creating the Stanford-Binet Test, scored using IQ.

Stanford-Binet: A standardized test that assesses intelligence and cognitive abilities from age 2 through adulthood.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ): A score derived from the formula introduced by William Stern.

Achievement test: Tests that reflect what you have already learned.

Aptitude test: Tests designed to predict your ability to learn a new skill.

David Wechsler: Developed WAIS and WISC intelligence tests.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS): Measures overall intelligence and 11 related aspects for clinical and educational assessment.

Standardization: Administering a test to a representative sample to establish norms for comparison.

Normal curve: A bell-shaped pattern showing the distribution of standardized test scores.

Reliability: A test is reliable when it yields consistent results.

Split-half reliability: Dividing a test into two halves to assess consistency.

Parallel-forms reliability: Using different forms of a test to assess consistency.

Test-retest reliability: Using the same test on two occasions to measure consistency.

Validity: Whether a test measures what it’s supposed to measure or predict.

Content validity: Extent a test measures a specific behavior or trait.

Predictive validity: Extent a test predicts future performance.

Cohort: A group of people from the same time period; longitudinal studies show that cohorts demonstrate stable or increasing scores over time.

Crystallized Intelligence: Accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; increases with age.

Fluid Intelligence: Ability to reason quickly and abstractly; decreases starting in the 20s, more rapidly after age 85.

Intellectual disability: IQ under 70; significantly different from those with IQ over 135 (high intelligence).

Down syndrome: A genetic condition where a person has an extra chromosome.

Heritability: A measure of how much differences in genes account for differences in traits among people.

Carol Dweck: Researcher focused on motivation and mindsets; known for her work on why people succeed and fostering success.

Stereotype threat: The risk of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s group, which can increase stress and lower performance.