Intelligence
Mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations. it is one's potential, not what they achieve. |
General intelligence
According to Charles Spearman, this underlies specific mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test. |
Factor analysis
A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person's total score. |
Savant syndrome |
A condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill, such as in computation or drawing. |
Emotional intelligence |
The ability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one's goal(s) |
Mental age |
The average age at which children could successfully answer a particular level of questions. a measure of intelligence devised by Binet; the age at which a person is mentally performing at. It can be higher, lower, or the same as their chronological age. |
Alfred Binet |
Created the first known intelligence test and developed the concept of mental age. |
Stanford-Binet |
The widely used American revision of Binet's original intelligence test. Louis Terman of Stanford University created it. |
Lewis Terman |
Pioneer in the field of intelligence. Conducted the famous "termite" study, also created the Stanford-Binet test and the IQ formula. |
Intelligence quotient (IQ) |
Originally defined as the mental age divided by chronological age multiplied by 100 Developed by Lewis Terman. |
Achievement tests |
Tests designed to assess what a person has learned. The AP Psychology Exam is an example |
Aptitude tests |
Tests designed to predict a person's future performance; aptitude is the capacity to learn. SAT, and IQ test are examples |
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) |
the most widely used intelligence test; contains verbal and performance (nonverbal) subtests. |
Standardization
The process of giving the test to a large group of representative and randomly selected people to establish consistent methods administration. |
Normal curve |
A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes. |
Reliability |
The extent to which a test yields consistent results. a test can be reliable but not valid. Can determine by retesting or by comparing the consistency of scores on two halves of the test (split half reliability) |
Validity |
The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to. In order for a test to be valid it has to be reliable. |
Content validity |
The extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest. The AP Psychology exam will measure your knowledge of Psychology, and not Chemistry. |
Predictive validity |
The success with which a test predicts the behavior it is designed to predict; it is assessed by computing the correlation between test scores and the criterion behavior. The SATs have predictive validity. |
Intellectual disability |
A condition of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence score of 70 or below and difficulty in adapting to the demands of life; varies from mild to profound. |
Multiple Intelligences |
Theory created by Howard Gardner that there are many types of intelligences such as musical, interpersonal, naturalist, and bodily-kinetics. Come critics say these are more abilities than intelligences |
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Developed by Robert Sternberg describes three distinct types of intelligence that a person can possess. These three types are practical intelligence, creative intelligence, and analytical intelligence. |
WAIS
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is an IQ test designed by David Wechsler to measure intelligence and cognitive ability in adults and older adolescents |
WISC
The Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children is an IQ test administered to children between ages 6 and 16 by school districts and psychologists. |
Cultural bias |
Tendency for IQ tests to reflect the language, culture, history, and customs of the people who designed the test. |
Heritability |
Proportion of change that is due to genetic factors. For intelligence, it is about 50%. Estimates of heritability apply to groups, not individuals. |
Stereotype Threat |
A situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of conforming to stereotypes about their social group |
Brain Glucose Consumption |
The link between Glucose consumption and intelligence is that the more intelligent a person is, the less active their brain is. Thus, they consume less glucose, so their brain is more efficient. |
Perceptual Speed |
The ability to examine and compare numbers, letters, and objects quickly. |
Neurological Speed |
The speed at which neurons react, process and acquire new information. |
Flynn Effect |
Idea that over the course of history, intelligence has increased due to factors such as better diet and health and technological advancements. |