Measuring Intelligence: Facts and FallaciesThe testing of intelligence has a long and controversial history. Claims that it is a pseudo-science or a weapon of ideological warfare have been commonplace and there is not even a consensus as to whether intelligence exists and, if it does, whether it can be measured. As a result the debate about it has centred on the nurture versus nature controversy and especially on alleged racial differences and the heritability of intelligence - all of which have major policy implications. This book aims to penetrate the mists of controversy, ideology and prejudice by providing a clear non-mathematical framework for the definition and measurement of intelligence derived from modern factor analysis. Building on this framework and drawing on everyday ideas the author address key controversies in a clear and accessible style and explores some of the claims made by well known writers in the field such as Stephen Jay Gould and Michael Howe. |
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ability already answer appears approach arises average Bell Curve better brain calculated called changes chapter Charles Spearman claim clear close common construct contribution correlation critics depends described determined dimension direction discussion distribution effect environment environmental example exist expect expressed fact factor analysis figure further genes genetic give given height human idea identify important indicators individual influence inheritance intelligence testing kind known latent variable look matter means measure mental method nature normal normal distribution noted object observed original particular performance population position possible practice precise problem quantity question reason reference result sample scale seems sense shape shows similar simple single Spearman statistic sufficient suppose test items test scores theory things true turn underlying variation vary
Popular passages
Page 4 - Intelligence is the aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment.
Page 5 - ... a human intellectual competence must entail a set of skills of problem solving — enabling the individual to resolve genuine problems or difficulties that he or she encounters, and, when appropriate, to create an effective product — and must also entail the potential for finding or creating problems— thereby laying the groundwork for the acquisition of new knowledge
Page 153 - Intelligence is a very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience. It is not merely book learning, a narrow academic skill, or test-taking smarts. Rather, it reflects a broader and deeper capability for comprehending our surroundings — "catching on," "making sense" of things, or "figuring out
Page xi - ... first business is to see that the game is played according to the rules whether I like them or not.
Page 2 - There is another reason, too, why it would be a mistake to jump to the conclusion that the cycloidal model is the correct one.
Page 79 - The subtests include: information, comprehension, arithmetical reasoning, memory span for digits, similarities, picture arrangement, picture completion, block design, digit symbols, and object assembly.
Page 78 - There is no reason in principle why this should not be done for people living in the country as well as for people living in the city.
Page 148 - gene for intelligence '. Genes affect intelligence indirectly, but in ways that are not inevitable and depend upon other influences being present. There is certainly no such thing as a 'gene for intelligence'.
References to this book
Clocking the Mind: Mental Chronometry and Individual Differences Arthur R. Jensen Limited preview - 2006 |
Integrating the Mind: Domain General Versus Domain Specific Processes in ... Maxwell J. Roberts No preview available - 2007 |
Bibliographic information
| Title | Measuring Intelligence: Facts and Fallacies Measuring Intelligence: Facts and Fallacies, David J. Bartholomew |
| Author | David J. Bartholomew |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0521544785, 9780521544788 |
| Length | 172 pages |
| Subjects | › › Medical / Psychiatry / General Psychology / General Psychology / Personality |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |