Book contents
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- 1 Intelligence Is Whatever Collection of Tasks a Psychologist Puts on a Test
- 2 Intelligence Is Too Complex to Summarize with One Number
- 3 IQ Does Not Correspond to Brain Anatomy or Functioning
- 4 Intelligence Is a Western Concept that Does Not Apply to Non-Western Cultures
- 5 There Are Multiple Intelligences in the Human Mind
- 6 Practical Intelligence Is a Real Ability, Separate from General Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
2 - Intelligence Is Too Complex to Summarize with One Number
from Section 1 - The Nature of Intelligence
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 October 2020
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- 1 Intelligence Is Whatever Collection of Tasks a Psychologist Puts on a Test
- 2 Intelligence Is Too Complex to Summarize with One Number
- 3 IQ Does Not Correspond to Brain Anatomy or Functioning
- 4 Intelligence Is a Western Concept that Does Not Apply to Non-Western Cultures
- 5 There Are Multiple Intelligences in the Human Mind
- 6 Practical Intelligence Is a Real Ability, Separate from General Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
Summary
From the time Spearman discovered g in 1904, people have been skeptical about the idea that intelligence was one entity in the mind that could be summarized by a single number. In the Introduction, I showed how psychologists in the twentieth century used factor analysis to argue about whether intelligence was one entity (as Spearman believed) or consisted of multiple mental abilities (as Thurstone claimed). For decades, psychologists repeatedly gathered data, performed factor analyses, and modified their tests, statistical methods, and theories in an effort to better understand intelligence. Though it was a slow process that lasted over half a century, it was productive in shedding light on the debate over the nature of intelligence.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- In the KnowDebunking 35 Myths about Human Intelligence, pp. 35 - 39Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020