Theories of Intelligence: Are There Different Kinds of Intelligence?

Fluid and crystallized intelligence

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences: The Many Ways of Showing Intelligence

Is Information Processing Intelligence?

Practical and Emotional Intelligence

Assessing Intelligence

Binet and the Development of IQ Tests

Contemporary IQ Tests: Gauging Intelligence

Achievement and Aptitude Tests

Reliability and Validity: Taking the Measure of Tests

Adaptive testing: Using computers to assess performance

Variations in Intellectual Ability

Mental Retardation

The Intellectually Gifted

Individual Differences in Intelligence: Hereditary and Environmental Determinants

Key concepts for Module 23:

Define intelligence and the issues related to its definition.

Describe the alternative views of intelligence, including the g-factor, fluid and crystallized intelligence, and Gardner’s model of multiple intelligences.

Discuss how intelligence is measured, the definition of intelligence quotient, and how achievement and aptitude tests differ from intelligence tests.

Explain how cognitive psychologists use information processing to describe intelligence, and briefly describe the search for the biological basis of intelligence.

Describe the concepts of practical intelligence and emotional intelligence, and discuss whether performance on achievement tests can be improved with training.

Define mental retardation and describe its various classifications.

Discuss the causes of mental retardation and the care and treatment of retarded individuals.

Define and describe intellectual giftedness.

Discuss the problem of cultural bias in intelligence tests and the attempts to produce a culture-fair IQ test.

Analyze the issues related to the heredity versus environment debate in the study of intelligence.