General intelligence
Specific mental abilities that can be measured on an intelligence test.
Mental age
Chronological age that typically corresponds to a certain level of performance.
Ex: An 8-year-old who performs as well as the average 8-year-old has a mental age of 8. An 8-year-old who performs as well as the average 10-year-old has a mental age of 10.
Intelligence quotient (IQ)
Ratio of mental age divided by chronological age, multiplied by 100.
Ex: A person with a mental age of 24 and a chronological age of 18 has an IQ of 133 (24 ÷ 18 × 100 = 133).
Factor analysis
Clusters of specific items on IQ tests used to determine different measures of performance.
Ex: Factor analysis might reveal that questions measuring vocabulary and reading comprehension cluster together, representing verbal ability.
Robert Sternberg’s Triarchic theory of intelligence
Theory that humans have three types of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical.
Ex: These three components together explain how people solve problems, generate new ideas, and function effectively in real life.
Analytical intelligence (Sternberg)
Problem-solving and academic skills; the ability to analyze, evaluate, and compare.
Ex: A student who excels at standardized tests and logical reasoning problems shows strong analytical intelligence.
Creative intelligence (Sternberg)
Ability to adapt to new situations and generate novel ideas.
Ex: An inventor who comes up with a unique solution to a design problem demonstrates creative intelligence.
Practical intelligence (Sternberg)
Skills required for accomplishing everyday tasks and adapting to one’s environment.
Ex: Someone who successfully manages workplace relationships or daily responsibilities shows practical intelligence.
Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory
Theory that humans have multiple ways in which they process data (e.g., verbally, spatially, rhythmically, interpersonally, etc.).
Ex: A musician may struggle with math but excel in rhythm and melody, demonstrating musical intelligence.
Savant syndrome
A condition in which a person with limited intellectual ability possesses an exceptional specific skill.
Ex: A man with developmental disabilities who cannot tie his shoes but can play any song perfectly after hearing it once.
Emotional intelligence
The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively.
Ex: Recognizing when a friend is upset and comforting them appropriately.
Crystallized intelligence
Our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills increase as we age.
Ex: Older adults often excel at crossword puzzles because they draw on a lifetime of learned knowledge.
Fluid intelligence
Our ability to reason speedily and think abstractly decreases with age.
Ex: Solving new logic puzzles quickly tends to be easier for younger adults than older ones.
Aptitude test
A test designed to predict a person’s ability to learn a new skill.
Ex: The SAT is meant to predict future academic performance in college.
Stanford-Binet
A widely used American intelligence test based on the formula IQ = (mental age ÷ chronological age) × 100.
Ex: A child with a mental age of 12 and a chronological age of 10 would have an IQ of 120.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
The most widely used IQ test, which includes verbal and nonverbal subtests.
Ex: It measures both reasoning and practical problem-solving skills in adults.
Validity
The extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure.
Ex: A math test that actually assesses math ability has high validity, while one that mostly tests reading comprehension does not.
Content validity
A test must be relevant to the content it measures.
Ex: A driver’s test should assess driving-related knowledge and skills, not unrelated topics like geography.
Predictive validity
A test should accurately predict future performance or behavior.
Ex: The SAT should predict how well students will perform in college.
Reliability
The consistent ability of a test to produce similar results across different occasions or forms.
Ex: If a student takes the same test twice and gets nearly the same score both times, the test is reliable.
Standardization
The process of ensuring a test is administered and scored in a consistent manner across a specific population.
Ex: Giving all test-takers the same instructions and time limits ensures fairness and comparability of scores.
Achievement test
A test designed to measure knowledge or skills that have already been learned.
Ex: A final exam or a unit test that evaluates what students have studied.
Nature vs. Nurture
A debate about whether human traits and behaviors are shaped primarily by genetics (nature) or by environmental factors and upbringing (nurture).
Ex: Intelligence may be influenced by both inherited traits and access to quality education.
Flynn effect
A statistical phenomenon showing that average IQ scores have been increasing over generations.
Ex: People today score higher on standardized IQ tests than people from the early 20th century, likely due to better education and nutrition.
-
sleep vocab unit 119
-
sleep cycles/stages unit 123
-
summer vocab unit 164
-
neurotransmitters unit 139
-
sleep disorders & dreams unit 19
-
basics unit 132
-
module 1 unit 127
-
summer anatomy unit 129
-
summer content unit 133
-
descrivtipe stats10
-
cognition pt 1 unit 26
-
cognition unit 2 pt 28
-
memory unit 215
-
memory retrival and forgetting18
-
cognition u2 pt 315
-
learning u37
-
classical conditioning u314
-
intelligence u325
-
operant conditioning12
-
learning PT2 u36
-
learning PT3 u36
-
constraints on learning11
-
unit 475
-
unit 4 quiz review63
-
disorder48
