Lecture 20 - Can intelligence change?

Question 1

Why is it important to study whether intelligence can change?

Answer 1

Because IQ has predictive validity for such outcomes:
- Educational (Alloway & Alloway, 2010; Cirino et al., 2016)
- School (Finn et al., 2014; Hannon, 2016)
- Life (Gerardi e al., 2013; Ritchie & Bates; Lynn et al., 2016)

Question 2

Can the environment affect IQ without explicit interventions?

Answer 2

Yes, for example:
- Socioeconomic status affects IQ (Turkheimer et al., 2003)
- Ability grouping in schools can improve IQ scores (Guill et al., 2017)
- The Flynn Effect shows IQ has increased generationally, likely due to the environment (Bratsberg & Rogeberg, 2018)

Question 3

What environmentaql factors can decrease IQ?

Answer 3

• Neurodegeneration (Haxby et al., 1992)
• Brain injury (Morris et al., 2005)
• School absence (Ceci, 1991)
• Low physical activity (Newsom & Kemps, 2005)
• Poor diet (Protzko, 2017)

Question 4

What did Nisbett et al. (2012) and Flynn (2016) say about intelligence and environment?

Answer 4

Both argued that environmental influences play a significant role in shaping intelligence, and that intelligence is more malleable than previously thought

Question 5

What is the general consensus on commercial brain-training games?

Answer 5

They do not improve IQ, despite popular belief (Simons et al., 2016)

Question 6

What did Anguera et al. (2013) find about video game training (NeuroRacer)?

Answer 6

It improved working memory and attention, but did not generalise to improved general intelligence

Question 7

What is the Dual N-Back task, and what are its effects?

Answer 7

• Schweizer et al. (2011): Found improvements in working memory and fluid intelligence
• Later studies (Au et al., 2015; Melby-Lervag et al., 2016; Redick et al., 2013; Sala et al., 2017): Found mixed results, questioning generalisability

Question 8

Why is improving general intelligence considered the “holy grail” of IQ research?

Answer 8

Because training discrete abilities (e.g., working memory) often doesn’t lead to increased general cognitive ability

Question 9

What is the Cassidy et al. (2011) spotlight study?

Answer 9

A pilot intervention based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT) aiming to raise IQ in children.
- Used WISC-III
- Found IQ increases after relational training
- Control group received different training (stimulus equivalence)
- Results suggested IQ improvements, but sample size was small

Question 10

What is SMART training?

Answer 10

Stands for Strengthening Mental Abilities with Relational Training
- Based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT)
- Aims to improve relational res[onding to increase IQ

Question 11

What were the findings of the second SMART study?

Answer 11

After 9 months of SMART training with 8 children
- Full-scale IQ increased by 13.1 points
- 3 subscales improved: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Processing Speed
- Working Memory did not improve

Question 12

Has SMART training been replicated or taken mainstream?

Answer 12

Yes, by Cassidy et al. (2016), Hayes & Stewart (2016), Thirus et al. (2016), Colbert et al. (2018), and McLoughlin et al. (2020)

Question 13

What are some critiques of IQ-raising interventions?

Answer 13

• Often have small samples (e.g., Cassidy et al., 2011)
• Control groups are weak or missing
• Other learning influences often not controlled
• Feasibility in schools is unclear
• Long-term effects often absent (Hopkins, 1971; Lipsey et al., 2018)

Question 14

What did Roche et al. (2020) find when controlling for attention and baseline IQ?

Answer 14

The apparent IQ increase from SMART when these baseline differences were accounted for

Question 15

Why do people want to improve their intelligence?

Answer 15

Because IQ has predictive validity

Question 16

What is the goal of early intervention programs like Head Start?

Answer 16

To enhance the cognitive and social development of disadvantaged children

Question 17

What classroom technique can a teacher use to increase their student’s IQ?

Answer 17

Group students by ability

Question 18

Is intelligence the biggest predictor of success? (Essay Practice)

Answer 18

• Possibly due to IQ’s predictive validity for life, school, and educational outcomes (Ritchie, 2015; Gerardi et al., 2013)
• But this view should be critically evaluated alongisde factors like socioeconomic status, opportunity, motivation, and the environment

Question 19

Is intelligence fixed? (Essay practice)

Answer 19

No. While genetic influences exist, evidence shows environmental factors can alter IQ (Flynn Effect, Turkheimer et al., 2003)
- Interventions like SMART suggest modifiability, though long-term effects and control issues remain