Week three - WAIS model and structure

Question 1

How do we define intelligence in psychology?

Answer 1

Problem solving?
Learning capacity?
Lateral thinking?
Learning speed?
Abstract thinking capacity?
Social intelligence?
Awareness and attunement to other people’s feelings?

Psychologists understand intelligence as a trait or an ability. This mental ability differs in degrees between individuals.

Pragmatically, intelligence is something that is measured by an intelligence test, e.g. IQ. The reason it is defined this way, is because if it wasn’t then our test is not measuring what we want it to. Therefore this needs to be clear when interpreting intelligence scores.

Question 2

What did Spearman suggest about Intelligence? (1904)

Answer 2

Spearman’s g - general factor of intelligence.

Spearman’s s - specific factor of intelligence.

Intelligence consists of these two factors.

Spearman pioneered the use of factor analysis (looking at a range of correlations and then grouping them into factors). Used this technique to identify common mental abilities and then came up with g and s.

Spearman’s G has been very influential in intelligence testing.

Question 3

What did Terman (1916) think about intelligence?

Question 4

What did Thurstone (1921) think about intelligence?

Answer 4

Thurstone believed that intelligence was made up of seven primary abilities.

They are:

Question 5

What did Wechsler (1939) think about intelligence?

Question 6

What did Sternburg (1984) think about intelligence?

Answer 6

How one responds to novelty/novel situations.

Question 7

What are some cultural differences discussed in class around definitions and understanding of intelligence?

We discussed definitions from China and Africa, specifically Zimbabwe.

Question 8

What are some common themes of defining intelligence (Western themes)?

Answer 8

Adaptability to environments.

Problem solving.

Creativity.

Memory.

Linguistic competency.

General knowledge.

Question 9

Is intelligence a latent construct?

Answer 9

yes. This means that the variable can only be inferred indirectly. We measure intelligence by measuring behaviours and then inferring intelligence from there.

Question 10

What was Cattell’s theory of intelligence (1941, 1971)?

Answer 10

Cattell looked at fluid vs. crystalised intelligence - intelligence is made up of two different types or components.

Fluid intelligence was the idea of problem solving, adaptivity.

Crystallised intelligence was knowledge, based on education and practice.

Question 11

What was Carroll’s (1993) theory of intelligence?

Answer 11

Carroll’s Three Stratum Theory of Intelligence.

Stratum III: General

Question 12

what is the most popular and current theory of intelligence?

Answer 12

Cattell-Horn-Carroll 3 Tier Model of Intelligence.

What does this model theorise intelligence as?

Question 13

Is intelligence due to nature or nurture?

Answer 13

Both. Some research says that about 50% of variation in intelligence is due to genetics, whereas about 40% is due to environment, with 10% not being explained yet.

These studies are based on identical, fraternal twins, parents, siblings, and adopted children and parents in the same and different environment.

Question 14

Is it true that people are more likely to choose a sexual partner with similar intelligence level than other traits, such as personality and physical traits.

Answer 14

Yes.

Question 15

What are some of the environmental factors that can influence intelligence?

Answer 15

Education level.

SES.

Nutrition.

Prenatal influences, such as infection or drug use.

Question 16

Is there a gender difference in intelligence?

Answer 16

No.

Having said that, there appears to be a gender difference in spatial ability.

There is more variation in intelligence performance in males.

Question 17

Is IQ malleable?

Answer 17

Yes.

Children can see a 12 to 18 increase in intelligence if they are adopted into a higher SES household, after being in a lower SES household.

Pre-school and early childhood programs can improve intelligence.

Question 18

How do we measure intelligence?

Answer 18

Using scales, such as The Binet Scale.

Question 19

What is the Binet Scale?

Answer 19

Developed by Alfred Binet.

Old modern test for intelligence used in the West.

Developed a set of 30 tasks of increasing difficulty. Then got children to complete as many of these tasks as possible. Then used this as a way to categorise people into a “mental age”.

Binet was attempting to figure out a way to know which children could be taught or which children could not.

Question 20

What is the IQ score?

Answer 20

The Intelligence Quotient. Ratio IQ.

First developed when Terman took Binet’s scale to Stanford in 1916, where it became the IQ - mental age/chronological age x 100.

Question 21

What is deviation IQ?

Answer 21

The measurement of IQ based on the population mean and standard deviation.

Question 22

What are the Weschler Scales?

When were they introduced?

Did they replace the Standford-Binet test?

Answer 22

Weschler IQ scales are the most widely used IQ tests.

Introduced in 1939.

Yes.

Question 23

What is the WISC?

Answer 23

Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children

Question 24

What is the WAIS?

Answer 24

Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Question 25

Is it true that an IQ does not tell us a lot? Why do we use it then?

Answer 25

Yes. The intelligence tests, such as WAIS, test a variety of domains, such as verbal or spatial performance. IQ scores/reports can give information about areas of difficulty or competency in mental ability an individual may have. This can aid in figuring out how to better support individuals.

Question 26

IQ scores are not important necessarily, apart from the clinical utility they offer people when we look at component parts that give us an indication of an individual's strengths and areas where an individual may require more support.

Question 27

What are some of the advantages of using IQ scales?

Answer 27

They can provide information about cognitive strength and weaknesses. They can provide information on degrees of change, e.g. after interventions and/or support.

Question 28

What are some of the disadvantages of IQ scales?

Answer 28

Individuals can be labelled and sunsequently experience stigma based on the label. Can be misused or misinterpretted. Limited use in marginalised or minority groups.

Question 29

What are some misconceptions about IQ?

Answer 29

That IQ is fixed. IQ tests are perfectly reliable.

Question 30

Given that there are multiple issues with IQ testing, why do we continue to test IQ and use this as a means of assessment for mental ability?

Answer 30

For those who are trained to use them, the tests can provide insight into where someone may require support. It gives us information that we may not be able to get elsewhere.

Question 31

What are some key things that we need to keep in mind when using and interpretting IQ scores?

Answer 31

Most IQ test are significantly biased toward the dominant culture, where it was developed, i.e. WEIRD populations.

Question 32

What is The Flynn Effect?

Answer 32

That average IQ has been steadily increasing each decade. This has been attributed to nutrition, technological change, education.

Question 33

Weschler scales have very good standardisation. What does this mean?

Answer 33

It is presented in exactly the same way for everyone. There are clear instructions on how it is meant to be administered. They have very good reliability.

Question 34

What are some weaknesses about the WAIS-IV?

Answer 34

Scores do not fit well with Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Intelligence, which is the most accepted theory of intelligence.

Question 35

What are the four domains that are measured in the WAIS-IV?

Answer 35

Verbal comprehension Index Scale. Perceptual Reasoning Index Scale.