What is Intelligence

1
What is Intelligence?

• A construct
• Slight differences exist between theorists

2
Factor analytic theorists

• Charles Spearman (1863-1945)
• E. L. Thorndike (1874-1949)
• Louis L. Thurstone (1887-1955)
• Raymond B. Cattell (1905-1998)
• J. P. Guilford (1897-1988)

3
Spearmans Two Factor Theory

• Two factors are g and s
• G represents general intelligence (abstract)
• S represents specific strengths
• Linguistic
• Mechanical
• Arithmetic

4
E. L. Thorndike

• Multiple factor theory
• Social IQ
• Concrete IQ
• Abstract IQ
• Studied animal intelligence
• WWI developed a test to measure IQ (CAVD)

5
Louis Thurstone

• Factor analytic theorist
• Primary Mental Abilities (7)
• Yielded individual scores rather than one IQ
  score
• Wrote The Nature of Intelligence (1924)

6
Raymond B. Cattell

• Two factor theory of intelligence
• Fluid (non-verbal)
• Crystallized (verbal)
• Pioneered work on a personality test (16-PF)

7
J. P. Guilford

• Three dimension structure of intellect resulting
  in 120 dimensions
• Operations
• Products
• Material
• Rejected the simple g model of intelligence

8
Guilfords Model

• Reasoning and problem-solving skills (convergent
  and divergent operations) can be subdivided into
  30 distinct abilities (6 products x 5 contents)

9
Convergent and Divergent Operations

• Example of task
• Which of the following objects best satisfies the
  criteria, hard and round an iron, a button, a
  tennis ball or a light bulb?
• Require the person to list all items they can
  think of that are round and hard in a given time
  period.

10
Other Dimensions

• Memory operations can be subdivided into 30
  different skills (6 products x 5 contents).
• Decision-making skills (evaluation operations)
  can be subdivided into 30 distinct abilities (6
  products x 5 contents).
• Language-related skills (cognitive operations)
  can be subdivided into 30 distinct abilities (6
  products x 5 contents).

11
Information Processing Theorist

• Aleksandr Luria (1902-1977) Soviet Psychologist
• Founder of modern neuropsychology
• Focused on how information is processed
• Parallel processing
• Sequential processing

12
Cognitive Theory

• Piaget
• Schema
• Assimilation
• Accommodation
• Disequilibrium
• Stages
• Sensorimotor (B-2)
• Preoperational (2-6)
• Concrete Operations (7-12)
• Formal Operations (12- )