Intelligence Theories Overview

Cattell's Gf-Gc Theory

• Fluid intelligence (Gf) is the innate mental capacity.
• Crystallized intelligence (Gc) is everything learned.
• Gf is about potential, while Gc is about actual achievement.
• This theory proposes a hierarchical structure where both Gf and Gc have several components.

Carroll's Three-Stratum Theory

• Summarizes existing hierarchical models by analyzing data from hundreds of factor analyses on human abilities.

Developmental Theories

• Emphasize cognitive development with age and experience.
• They differ from psychometric theories, which focus on analyzing relationships between specific tests.
• Key features:
  • Development occurs in stages, each qualitatively different.
  • Stages are fixed in order and everyone goes through them.
  • Stages cannot be skipped and are irreversible.
  • Stages are usually related to age.

Jean Piaget's Theory

• A prominent developmental theory of intelligence.
• Four main stages:
  • Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Lack of object permanence.
  • Preoperational (2-6 years): Lack of conservation principles.
  • Concrete operational (7-12 years): Understanding of conservation and reversibility.
  • Formal operational (12+ years): Mature cause-and-effect reasoning.

Information Processing Theories

• Focus on how information is processed, not just what is known.
• Intelligence is measured using elementary cognitive tasks (ECTs).
• ECTs are simple tasks requiring mental processing, providing a potential culture- and education-free assessment.
• Example: Reaction time.
• The Semantic verification task is another example.

Jensen's Theory

• Fluid intelligence ("g") influences both intelligence test performance and information processing factors.

Sternberg's Triarchic Theory

• Three sub-theories:
  • Componential (mental processes).
  • Experiential (novelty-automation).
  • Contextual (environment interaction).
• Introduces the concept of "practical intelligence".
• This theory has faced considerable criticism.

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory

• Proposes several types of intelligence:
  • Linguistic.
  • Logical-mathematical.
  • Spatial.
  • Musical.
  • Bodily-kinesthetic.
  • Intrapersonal.
  • Interpersonal.
  • It is a controversial idea with no clear consensus.

Factor Analysis

• Aims to summarize a large number of variables (items) into a smaller set of variables (factors).
• Factor analysis helps to understand better what is being measured.
• The factors are weighted sums of item scores or subtest scores.
• Key concept: There are similar patterns of responses across multiple variables because they are associated with a latent variable (the factor).
• Types:
  • Exploratory: What is the structure of the test?
  • Confirmatory: Can you confirm the assumed structure of the test?

Validity

• Determines if the test measures what it is supposed to measure.
• Factor analysis is one of the methods that can demonstrate internal structure validity.

Predictive Validity

• The quality of a test in predicting future performance.
• Factors that impact predictive validity:
  • Quality of data (criterion measures, range restriction).
  • Relation to existing information.
  • Context in which the test is used.
• High predictive validity doesn't necessarily lead to better decisions.

Range Restriction

• Occurs when only a specific range of scores is available for analysis.
• Often encountered in selection procedures.
• Example: Only selecting candidates with high test scores will limit the range of scores, leading to an underestimation of the test's predictive validity.
• The range restriction reduces the spread of scores in both the predictor (X) and the criterion (Y).

Explore the key theories of intelligence, including Cattell's Gf-Gc theory and Carroll's Three-Stratum Theory. Understand the stages of cognitive development as proposed by Jean Piaget and how intelligence is structured. This quiz will test your knowledge on these fundamental concepts in psychology.