Everything you ever wanted to know about Intelligence, but were afraid to ask!

Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

Intelligence

If you had to construct an IQ test, what kinds of questions would it contain?

What kinds of abilities do you think you’d want to test?

Binet and Simon

Assessment: Attention Perception Memory Numerical reasoning Verbal comprehension

Mental Age Children tested, ages 3-13 Items passed by most 6-year-olds, but a few

5 year olds reflect the mental functioning of 6-year old, etc.

Binet’s understanding – an individual’s level of mental development relative to others.

Stern – Intelligence quotient – IQ = MA / CA x 100 Therefore, it mental age is lower than

chronological age, the score is less than 100.

Definition of Intelligence

Piaget: adaptive thinking / action “The form of equilibrium towards which the

successive adaptation or exchanges between the organism and environment are directed.”

Vygotsky: Zone of Proximal Development Cognitive growth occurs within the zone where

the child receives help to be able to understand or do something independently.

Definitions of Intelligence

Wechsler The global capacity of the individual to act

purposefully, think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment.

Conclusion: No consensus.

Intelligence Testing

One Score Tests Stanford – Binet Intelligence Scales – 2 –

adult Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV –

6-16 years.

The normal curve

WAIS-IV 130 and above – very superior 120-129 – Superior 110-119 – High average 90-109 - Average 80-89 – Low Average 70-79 – Borderline 69 and below – Extremely Low

Issues with Extreme Scores

Diagnosis of Gifted and Talented Diagnosis of Mental Retardation Do we do a good job with extreme scores? Difference between intelligence and mastery

tests, e.g. Woodcock-Johnson.

Verbal IQ

Learned/absorbed knowledge Knowledge of history, literary/biological facts Knowledge relating to competent functioning

in the world Knowledge of mathematics Knowledge of the meaning of specific words

Performance IQ

Measure: unfamiliar tasks Speed is critical Measures on-the-spot analytical thinking Measures how well a person can master new

problem IQ measures person’s standing as compared

to a reference group

VIQ, PIQ, FSIQ

VIQ = measures acquired knowledge, verbal reasoning, attention to verbal materials.

PIQ = measures fluid reasoning, spatial processing, attentiveness to detail, visual-motor integration.

FSIQ = overall summary score – estimates an individual’s general level of intellectual functioning.

What exactly does that mean?

Factor Analytic Approach

Factor Analysis – a statistical procedure for identifying clusters of tests or test items (called factors) that are highly correlated with each other and unrelated to other items.

Standardization

Sample Cultural bias of tests Stanford-Binet WAIS-III to IV

Vygotsky again

Vygotsky – “test, train, retest” Brown and Ferrara (1985)

Not all average IQ children are alike Low IQ children versus High IQ children

Theories of Intelligence

Piaget – intelligence is the adaptation to one’s environment.

Triarchic Theory – Sternberg Intelligence comes from:

Analytical intelligence Creative intelligence Practical intelligence

Horn and Cattell

Intelligence = the abilities that distinguish humans from other animals as well as an individual from another individual.

There is more than one kind of ability or intelligence.

This is a theory of ability.

Horn and Cattell Nine broad abilities

Fluid reasoning Acculturation knowledge Short-term apprehension retention or STM Fluency of retrieval from LT storage or LTM Visual Processing – Imaging Auditory processing Processing speed Correct decision speed Quantitative knowledge

Horn and Cattell

Fluid Intelligence = ability to perceive relationships, ability to adapt, ability to learn new material. Independent of culture and formal training.

Crystallized Intelligence – completely dependent on culture and formal training or learning. Increases with age.

Both important for success in life.

Gardner – theory of Multiple Intelligences Atypical populations Jagged cognitive profile Training in one area influence skills in

another area? Gardner (1993) defines intelligence = the

ability to solve problems or to create products that are valued within one or more cultural settings.

Gardner’s Eight Frames of Mind Gardner believes in 8 different types of

intelligence Verbal skills Mathematical skills Spatial skills Bodily-kinesthetic skills Musical Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalistic – observe patterns in nature