What is intelligence?

Question 1

What are the three levels intelligence is defined on?

Answer 1

1. Psychometric.
2. Physiological.
3. Social.

Question 2

What is the basis of the psychometric approach to intelligence? (2)

Answer 2

• Focuses on individual differences in performance on mental ability tests.
• Underlying assumption is that test scores reveal the overall structure of intelligence.

Question 3

What do the implicit theories of intelligence aim to do?

Answer 3

Attempts to understand intelligence back 1000s of years.

Question 4

What are two strengths of the implicit theories of intelligence?

Answer 4

1. Implicit theories direct the way we perceive and evaluate intelligence.
2. Understanding implicit theories can help to explain developmental and cross-cultural differences.

Question 5

What are two limitations of the implicit theories of intelligence?

Answer 5

1. Implicit theories provide a framework rather than an account of intelligence.
2. Lack of specificity.

Question 6

What are two limitations of the explicit theories of intelligence?

Answer 6

1. Lack of attention to the contexts in which intelligent behaviour occurs.
2. Fails to provide an clear starting point for the selection of tasks.

Question 7

What are explicit theories of intelligence?

Answer 7

Explicit theories are based on scientific data.