Theories of Intelligence
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Charles Spearman (1927)
First to theorize that there is a measurable general intelligence (not totally splintered)
Within that, there are specific factors (strengths and weaknesses)
He referred to g as a mental energy, which he believed could be exhausted.
- we still use the g factor in that most tests boil down to one score.
Guilford (1967) this theory is NOT in vogue right now.
Structure of Intellect Model
Three Dimensions:
1. Operations (5)
2. Contents (4)
3. Products (6)
= 120 possible combinations
Five Operations (Act of thinking)
1. Cognition
2. Divergent Thinking
3. Convergent Thinking
4. Evaluation
5. Memory
Four Contents (Terms in which we think)
1. Figural (Visual & Auditory content)
2. Symbolic
3. Symantec (Word meanings)
4. Behavoiral
Six Products (Ideas which we come up with)
1. Units
2. Classes
3. Relations
4. Systems
5. Transformations
6. Implications
Strengths broadens what we think of as intelligence, can work with creative thinking.
Cattell & Horn: Theory of Fluid & Crystallized Intelligence
Crystallized: formal, traditional definition, acquired skills & knowledge, book smarts, academic. Acquired skills & knowledge that are developmentally dependent on exposure to culture (typically middle class).
Tests weighted this way are often culturally biased.
Fluid Intelligence: refers to non-verbal, relatively culture free, mental efficiency. Involves adaptive and new learning capabilities & is related to mental operations & processes. (Ex. Figure classifications, figural analyses, number & letter series, matrices & paired associations.
Carroll: Three Stratum Theory (1997) Most widely accepted at this time.
Three Stratums:
Stratum I: Specific abilities - filed under stratum II.
There are between 65 70 Narrow Abilities, such as reading comprehension, memory, visualization, speech/sound discrimination, originality, creativity.
Sratum II: There are 8 Broad Abilities.
1. Fluid intelligence
2. Crystallized intelligence
3. General memory & learning
4. Broad visual perception
5. Broad auditory perception
6. Broad retrieval capacity
7. Broad cognitive speediness
8. Processing speed.
Stratum I: Similar to "g" - The general intellectual ability.
Sternberg: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence (1986)
Intelligent behavior involves the interplay of the environmental context, ones prior experiences, and cognitive processes.
Three Dimensions:
1. Componential Dimension (cognitive process)
a. META component higher order processes used in planning, monitoring and evaluating the performance of a task.
b. Performance component strategies used in the execution of a task
c. Knowledge acquisition processes used in learning new things
2. Experiential Dimension (prior experience) relates intelligence to both external & internal worlds of the individual (novelty wears off with experience, becomes more automatic)
3. Contextual Dimension (environmental experience) relates intelligence to the internal world. Emphasizes adaptation to, selection of, & shaping of the environment.
Sternberg: Successful Intelligence Theory (1996)
A theory of intelligence that focuses on the ability to adopt to, shape, and select environments to accomplish ones goals and those of ones society and culture.
1. Analytic abilities: are useful in analyzing & evaluating ones life options
2. Creative abilities: help to generate problem solving options to promote ideas that may not be popular & convince others to the value of the ideas.
3. Practical abilities: those applied to real world problems in order to implement options & make them work
Individuals with successful intelligence are able to discern their strengths and weaknesses and determine ways to use their strengths to minimize their weaknesses.
Key aspect in practical abilities is Tacit knowledge.
Tacit knowledge is the knowledge of what one needs to know to succeed in a given environment that is not explicitly taught & is not verbalized.
Gardner: Multiple Intelligence Theory (1983)
Linguistic intelligence
Musical intelligence
Logical-mathematical intelligence
Spatial intelligence
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence
Interpersonal intelligence
Naturalistic intelligence
Tentative additions:
Spiritual intelligence (new age crap)
Existential intelligence
These intelligences are separate, but relates. On their own, they are autonomous.
Intelligence is a combination of several of the intelligences.
Must measure via observation (if at all).
Gardner is more popular in education than psychology (for political, save my job reasons)
Not been much research, no true way to measure.
Filed under: EDC 512-513 Cognitive Assessment and Practicum
Copyright: September, 2003 - David Profitt
