Intelligence (psychology, notes)

There is no single agreed upon definition.  However, intelligence is inferred from behavior that is goal directed, under conscious control, and adaptive meaning aimed at solving problems.  Thus, it is not the score one receives on a test.  It is the capacity to reason, to acquire knowledge and problem solve.

psychometrics - there are individual differences in the a/m characteristics.  Can these differences be quantified?  Yes.  The psychometric approach takes the position that one can compare any one's performance on a test comprised of items that require reasoning and problem solving and then compare a given individual to a standardized norm based on a large representation sample of others who took the test.

Historically, intelligence testing began with Galton and Binet.  Galton in the late 1800's was interested in variation in psychological characteristics and devised tests to measure perceptual speed, reaction time;  memory.  He noted correlations between one's heredity across generations and the ability to succeed on intellectual tasks.  He concluded that intelligence is largely a matter of inheritance.  Intelligence and stupidity runs in families.  He neglected the role of psychosocial variables.

Binet devised intelligence tests for the purpose of finding reliable means of assessing school children and then assigning the best possible teaching and learning situation based on measured ability.  Intelligence as a general attribute manifests itself in a number of cognitive functions, including perception, memory, reasoning, judging, language, social knowledge.  He believed that intelligence changes with age and that environment has an enormous influence on its development and expression.  Any child who takes the test can be compared to its own age group.  If the child succeeds in responding correctly to items of its own age group, the child is to have an average intelligence of mental age.  If however, the child exceeds its age group by responding correctly to items of an age group older than its own, than the child has a MA greater than its chronological of birth age.  If the opposite is the case, then it has a  mental age below its chronological age.  For Binet, mental age revealed how successful the child was in performing on those test items.  At above or below its own chronological age group.  Thus, a child's mental age could be at, above or below its chronological age group indicating an average above average or below average mental age or intelligence.  Stern in 1911 devised a formula for determining one's intelligence quotient or IQ mental age over the chronological age x 100.  MA x100  = IQ
                                        CA

   If MA and CA were the same the IQ is 100.  When MA exceeds CA, the IQ is more than 100 or above average.  When MA is less than CA the IQ is less than 100 or below average.  The IQ reveals the rate of intellectual development by determining the child's MA in relation to its CA.

  to be continued........