Postlethwaite (2011) Flashcards
Who was Bennett Postlethwaite’s thesis supervisor?
Professor Frank L. Schmidt
“Of the more traditional theories of intelligence, two perspectives are particularly dominant” - which are these?
The Cattell-Horn model of fluid and crystallized intelligence and the theory of General Cognitive Ability (GCA or g)
How is Gf commonly assessed?
Gf is typically assessed with items of a nonverbal or graphical format using tests such as Raven‘s Progressive Matrices (see Figure 1 for an example item). However, verbal items (such as analogies) can also be used to assess Gf if the word pairs contain simple words that are familiar to the population of test takers
What does Investment Theory propose?
Investment Theory proposes that individuals have a fixed amount of Gf which they can choose to “invest” in, or apply to, learning in specific “crystallized skills” or domains.
How is Gc typically assessed?
Gc is typically measured with verbal items, particularly those assessing vocabulary.
How is the correlation between Gf and Gc viewed?
While some scholars
view this as evidence for the higher level construct of g (Ackerman, Beier, & Boyle, 2005), traditional Gf-Gc theorists choose not to extract the general factor, a choice that reflects their view that g is merely a statistical artifact rather than a meaningful psychological construct.
Cite three different definitions of “g”.
- Ackerman and colleagues (2005, p. 32) describe g as “a generic representation for the efficiency of intellectual processes”.
- Gottfredsen (1997, p. 79) argues that g is “essentially the ability to deal with cognitive complexity, in particular, with complex information”.
- Schmidt and Hunter maintain that general cognitive ability is “essentially the ability to learn”.
How does g theory explain why Gc is a good predictor of job performance?
A fundamental principle in psychology is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior (Oullette & Wood, 1998). Thus, when defining g as the ability to learn, g theory predicts that Gc indicators will be the best predictors of future learning and performance (which depends on learning).
Why is it problematic to examine Gc and Gf using factor analysis?
Although factor analysis can be informative, it can also be problematic in that results can vary substantially depending on the specific combinations of tests examined. For example, Hunt (2000) points out that it is possible (and indeed quite simple) to manipulate the extraction of a general factor by selecting certain combinations of tests to analyze. That is, “interpretation of any summarizing statistic, including a general factor, depends upon what is being summarized”
What was the correlation coefficient between WM and g found by Ackerman and colleagues (2005)?
0.479 (~0.5)
How large is the “Flynn Effect”, roughly?
Flynn observed that IQ scores appear to have risen an average of 20 points per generation (i.e., every 30 years; Flynn, 1998).
Is the Flynn Effect most prominent for Gf och Gc?
A closer look at the data reveals increases are visible primarily in Gf measures (such as the Raven‘s Progressive Matrices) and not in Gc measures (such as the SAT verbal scores).
Which of Gf and Gc declines most with age?
The largest declines are seen with measures of fluid intelligence. In contrast, crystallized intelligence remains relatively stable until an extremely advanced age.
How can tests of Gf and Gc respectively discriminate towards different groups?
While Gc tests may discriminate towards immigrants and non-native speakers, Gf tests may discriminate towards older applicants. The latter problem is exacerbated by the fact that the workforce generally is getting older.
Name five of James McKeen Cattell’s ten sensory tests of intelligence
- dynamometer pressure
- sensation areas
- reaction time for sound
- weight differentiation
- bisection of a 50cm line
What was the purpose of Binet and Simon’s first intelligence tests?
To assess the degree to which French schoolchildren were developmentally- delayed for their ages.
Which abilities have been added to the Cattell-Horn model of intelligence?
- General visualization (Gv)
- General speediness (Gs)
- Short-term memory (Gsm) or short-term apprehension and retrieval (SAR)
- Long-term memory (Glm) or tertiary storage and retrieval (TSR)
- Auditory processing (Ga)
- Correct decision speed (CDS)
- Quantitative ability (Gq)
- Reading/writing ability (Grw)
How are Gf and Gc thought to influence each other?
One of the core ideas underlying Gf – Gc theory is that Gf and Gc are causally
related, whereby the acquisition of Gc is dependent, to a large degree, on Gf. A converse or reciprocal relationship is not part of the theory. That is, “level of gf is considered to be unaffected by previous Gc acquisitions”.
Describe a simplified version of Cattell’s investment theory
Historical Gf»_space; Present Gf
Historical Gf»_space; Present Gc
Time/interests/etc»_space; Common learning investment»_space; Present Gc
Hur definierar Raymond Cattell Gf?
“a single, general,
relation-perceiving ability connected with the total, associational, neuron development of the cortex”
Hur definierar Raymond Cattell Gc?
“complex, acquired abilities, in the form of
high-level judgmental skills in particular perceptual and motor areas.”
Hur definierar Benneth Postlethwaite Gc?
“the ability to establish and access patterns of acquired knowledge and information in the environment”
Hur definierar Benneth Postlethwaite Gf?
“the ability to solve novel problems”
Hur sammanfattar Postlethwaite forskningen på Investment Theory?
In sum, several well-intentioned attempts have been made to empirically test
components of Cattell‘s (1971/1987) Investment Theory, but results from each of these studies have been mixed at best.
Hur fann Kvist and Gustafsson (2008) att korrelationen mellan g och Gf skiljde sig mellan grupper med olika “learning opportunities”?
Sambandet mellan Gf och g var .83 i den heterogena gruppen, medan det var “unity” (alltså nära 1.0) i den homogena gruppen.
Why does assessing Gc become increasingly difficult with age?
Because most crystallized assessments have tended to focus on the common body of knowledge learned in school rather than domain-specific knowledge acquired throughout adulthood.
