Module 2.8

Intelligence that is reflected in tests of mental ability, as suggested by Charles Spearman, is called

• practical intelligence.

• multiple intelligences.

• crystallized intelligence.

• general intelligence (g).

Answer explanation

Charles Spearman proposed the idea of general intelligence (g) that refers to the mental abilities that underlie all intelligent behavior. Practical intelligence, choice A, is a type of intelligence, suggested by Robert Sternberg, that reflects our street smarts. Multiple intelligences, choice B, was first proposed by Howard Gardner. He suggested that intelligence is composed of 8 separate intelligences, including kinesthetic and intrapersonal intelligence. Crystallized intelligence, choice C, was proposed by Raymond Cattell and refers to knowledge gained through experience. The Flynn effect, choice E, refers to the increase in intelligence test scores over time.

Factor analysis

• allows researchers to determine if the difference in group scores is statistically significant.

• is a statistical procedure that allows researchers to identify clusters of abilities.

• is used to sample from the population randomly.

• is used to compute the standard deviation for a distribution of test scores

Answer explanation

Factor analysis allows researchers to examine patterns in test scores statistically. Intelligence tests tend to measure a number ofabilities. Some questions may assess memory abilities, and others might measure processing speed. Factor analysis looks to see if there is a relationship, or correlation, between different items on a test. In other words, if someone scores high on memory-related items, will the person also score high on items measuring processing speed? Charles Spearman believed that if you scored high on one ability, you would also score high on others. He explained that all intelligent behavior has the same underlying factor. He called this g, or general intelligence. Factor analysis could not be used for the purposes described in choices B, C, D, or E.

Howard Gardner suggested that an individual who excels at mentally manipulating objects and enjoys creating and interpreting visual images exhibits which of the following types of intelligence?

• Bodily-kinesthetic

• Logical-mathematical

• Crystallized

• Spatial

Answer explanation

Those with spatial intelligence do extremely well with tasks requiring the ability to think in three dimensions. Such individuals do well at both creating visual images and interpreting them, such as creating art or solving puzzles. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, choice A, is seen in those who have good hand-eye coordination and high physical agility, such as professional athletes. Crystallized intelligence, choice B, refers to knowledge gained over a lifetime of experiences. Practical intelligence, choice D, is illustrated in a person’s ability to apply his or her skills to everyday problems that confront the person. Logical-mathematical intelligence, choice E, is the type of intelligence needed for scientific reasoning and for performing mathematical calculations.

Of the following, who demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence?

• Ken, an architect, enjoys the challenge of designing functional and beautiful buildings.

• Rik, a professional basketball player, is known for his agility and ability to handle the ball.

• Elizabeth, an office manager, skillfully handles conflicts among employees.

• Jane, a writer, reviews local concerts and musicals for the local news.

Answer explanation

Those high in emotional intelligence are adept at reading others’ emotional cues and know what to say when handling conflict. Thus Elizabeth, who can skillfully handle disagreements at work, demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence. Ken’s ability to design buildings, choice A, reflects a high level of Gardner’s spatial intelligence. Rik’s skills on the basketball court, choice B, demonstrates a high level of Gardner’s bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. Jane’s ability to discern musical skill, choice C, reflects Gardner ’s idea of musical intelligence. Jim’s research abilities, choice D, suggest a high level of Gardner’s logical-mathematical intelligence.

If an 8-year-old child does as well as the average 10-year-old child on an intelligence test, the 8-year-old child would have an IQ of

• 80

• 100

• 125

• 150

Answer explanation

The formula for determining the intelligence quotient (IQ) is mental age (MA) / chronological age x 100.

In this case, 10/8 x100 = 125. Choice A, 80,

incorrectly divides the chronological age by the mental age before multiplying by 100. Choice B, 100, is the IQ of someone whose mental age equals his or her chronological age. Choice C, 110, and choice E, 150, cannot result from the scenario provided.

When Sue’s glasses broke while she was at school, she used a paper clip to hold them together until she could get them fixed. According to Robert Sternberg, Sue’s solution shows a high level of which of the following intelligences?

• Practical

• Analytical

• Spatial

• Creative

Answer explanation

According to Robert Sternberg, creative intelligence includes the ability to use existing knowledge to deal with novel problems. In this case, Sue was able to take what she already knew, which is the structure of a paper clip, and apply it to a new situation, fixing her glasses. Practical intelligence, choice A, is referred to as street smarts or being able to adapt and thrive in an individual’s environment. Analytical intelligence, choice B, is closest to Spearman’s concept of g. It includes skills related to academic success, such as hypothetical reasoning. Bodily-kinesthetic, choice C, is part of Gardner’s multiple intelligences and refers to the ability to handle one’s body with skill and agility. Spatial intelligence, choice D, is also one of Gardner’s intelligences. It refers to the ability to think about and design three- dimensional objects.

A standardization sample for developing a test

• should be representative of all the types of people for whom the test is designed

• should include people from all different age groups, ethnic groups, and genders

• is a set of norms that will determine what score should be considered passing

• must include a standard set of directions for administering the test that all students will receive

Answer explanation

For a standardization sample to be useful, it must fairly represent all the types of people who will be taking it at a future date

According to Sternberg, which of the following types of intelligence in his triarchic theory are measured by standard IQ tests?

I. analytic

II. practical

III. creative

• I only

• II only

• III only

• I and II only

• I, II, and III

Answer explanation

Sternberg argued that traditional IQ tests are limited to measuring the analytical abilities of students—mostly verbal, mathematical, and logical reasoning. He believes that both practical and creative intelligence are overlooked by these tests but should be measured because of their importance in both adapting to the existing environment and shaping new ones.

During development of standardized tests, questions that are answered correctly by almost all students and those that are missed by almost all students are eliminated. Why?

• Only questions that are moderately difficult should be included on a test.

• These questions fail to show individual differences in abilities.

• These questions are poorly written.

• The questions may be valid, but they are not reliable.

Answer explanation

Questions at either extreme are thrown out because these fail to show individual differences, which is the whole point of standardized tests

Barika, who is 75, takes longer to solve problems that require abstract reasoning than she did when she was 35. This tendency indicates

• a decrease in her overall intelligence level

• an increase in her crystallized ability

• a decline in her fluid intelligence

• a problem in her concrete operational thought

Answer explanation

Many older individuals like Barika show this decline in fluid intelligence, possibly because they get fewer opportunities to use their abstract reasoning. The speed at which they can answer these types of questions decreases as well. Their overall crystallized intelligence, or information that they have gathered over a lifetime, is often unimpaired