A quick revision summary of Chapter 1: Variations in Psychological Attributes. Read the full notes separately for detailed explanations and worked examples.
1 Individual Differences and Assessment
| Assessment method | One-line meaning |
|---|---|
| Psychological test | Objective, standardised measure |
| Interview | One-to-one information gathering |
| Case study | In-depth study of one individual |
| Observation | Recording naturally-occurring behaviour |
| Self-report | Person’s own factual/opinion statements |
2 Theories of Intelligence, at a Glance
| Theorist | Theory / key idea |
|---|---|
| Binet | One-factor (uni-factor): intelligence is one set of abilities |
| Spearman (1927) | Two-factor: g-factor (general) + s-factors (specific) |
| Thurstone | 7 Primary Mental Abilities (Verbal Comprehension, Numerical, Spatial, Perceptual Speed, Word Fluency, Memory, Inductive Reasoning) |
| Jensen | Level I (associative learning) / Level II (cognitive competence) |
| Guilford (1988) | Structure-of-Intellect: Operations × Contents × Products = 180 cells |
| Gardner | 8 multiple, independent intelligences (Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinaesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic) |
| Sternberg (1985) | Triarchic: Componential (analytical), Experiential (creative), Contextual (practical); information-processing approach |
| Das, Naglieri, Kirby (1994) | PASS model: Arousal/Attention, Simultaneous-Successive Processing, Planning; information-processing approach; CAS test (ages 5-18) |
3 Measuring Intelligence
| IQ Range | Label | % Population |
|---|---|---|
| Above 130 | Very superior | 2.2 |
| 120-130 | Superior | 6.7 |
| 110-119 | High average | 16.1 |
| 90-109 | Average | 50.0 |
| 80-89 | Low average | 16.1 |
| 70-79 | Borderline | 6.7 |
| Below 70 | Intellectually disabled | 2.2 |
Approximate IQ correlations (book):
Intelligence is a product of the complex interaction of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture): heredity sets a range within which development is actually shaped by the environment.
4 Two Extremes of Intelligence
Intellectual disability (AAMD): sub-average intellectual functioning (IQ below 70) + deficits in adaptive behaviour + onset during 0-18 years.
Giftedness: Terman (1925), ~1,500 children, IQ 130+. From the teachers’ point of view, psychologists suggest giftedness depends on high ability + high creativity + high commitment. Giftedness ≠ talent (a narrower, field-specific ability) and ≠ brilliant academic performance alone.
5 Test Types, Culture, and India
Test classifications
- Individual vs Group
- Verbal, Non-verbal, or Performance
- Culture-fair vs Culture-biased
India’s pioneers
- S.M. Mohsin, Hindi test, 1930s
- C.H. Rice, Urdu/Punjabi
- Mahalanobis, Bengali
- NLEPT (at NCERT), documents Indian tests
Culture and intelligence: Vygotsky: culture is the social context for cognitive growth. Western “technological intelligence” (analysis, speed, achievement) vs “integral intelligence” in the Indian tradition (buddhi), with four facets: cognitive, social, emotional and entrepreneurial competence.
6 Emotional Intelligence, Aptitude, Creativity
Aptitude vs Interest: interest = preference to do; aptitude = potential to do it. DAT has 8 subtests, most common in schools; GATB and ASVAB are other batteries.
Creativity and intelligence: positive relationship, but “a certain level of intelligence is required for creativity but beyond that intelligence does not correlate well with creativity” (book’s own conclusion). Creativity tests use divergent thinking; intelligence tests mostly use convergent thinking. Named creative persons: Tagore, Einstein, C.V. Raman, Ramanujan. Creativity is determined by both heredity (sets the limits) and environment (motivation, commitment, family support, peers, training).
- Individual differences, situationism, five domains and five assessment methods
- Eight intelligence theories with their theorist and year
- IQ formula and Table 1.1’s classification
- Intellectual disability’s four levels; giftedness’s Terman study
- Test types, India’s testing pioneers, culture’s role, the four facets of intelligence in the Indian tradition
- Emotional intelligence, aptitude vs interest, creativity vs intelligence