Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Measuring Intelligence293Collectively, animal language researchreflects an active area of psychologicalresearch that is referred to asanimal cognition or comparative cognition(Papini, 2002; Wasserman &Zentall, 2006). Although the results ofthese studies are fascinating, a great dealremains to be discovered about the potentialof different species of animals tocommunicate, produce language, andsolve problems—and their limitations indoing so. Many psychologists cautionagainst jumping to the conclusion thatanimals can “think” or that they possessself-awareness, because such conclusionsare far from proven (Premack, 2007).Measuring IntelligenceIrene Pepperberg with Alex WhenAlex died suddenly in September2007, the story was reported innewspapers around the world, includingthe New York Times (Carey,2007; Talbot, 2008). Over 30 yearsof research, Pepperberg and Alexrevolutionized ideas about avianintelligence and animal communication.Along with his remarkablelanguage abilities, Alex also displayedan understanding of simpleconcepts, including an understandingof bigger and smaller, similarityand difference. Shown a greenblock and a green ball and asked“What’s the same?” Alex responds,“Color.” Alex could even accuratelylabel quantities up to the numbersix (Pepperberg, 2007). To learn moreabout Pepperberg’s ongoing research withgray parrots Griffin and Arthur, visitwww.alexfoundation.org.Key Theme• Intelligence is defined as the global capacity to think rationally, actpurposefully, and deal effectively with the environment.Key Questions• What roles did Binet, Terman, and Wechsler play in the development ofintelligence tests?• How did Binet, Terman, and Wechsler differ in their beliefs aboutintelligence and its measurement?• Why are standardization, validity, and reliability important components ofpsychological tests?Up to this point, we have talked about a broad range of cognitive abilities—the useof mental images and concepts, problem solving and decision making, and the use oflanguage. All these mental abilities are aspects of what we commonly call intelligence.What exactly is intelligence? We will rely on a formal definition developed by psychologistDavid Wechsler. Wechsler (1944, 1977) defined intelligence as the globalcapacity to think rationally, act purposefully, and deal effectively with the environment.Although many people commonly equate intelligence with “book smarts,”notice that Wechsler’s definition is much broader. To Wechsler, intelligence is reflectedin effective, rational, and goal-directed behavior.The Development of Intelligence TestsCan intelligence be measured? If so, how? Intelligence tests attempt to measure generalmental abilities, rather than accumulated knowledge or aptitude for a specific subjector area. In the next several sections, we will describe the evolution of intelligencetests, including the qualities that make any psychological test scientifically acceptable.Alfred BinetIdentifying Students Who Needed Special HelpIn the early 1900s, the French government passed a law requiring all children toattend school. Faced with the need to educate children from a wide variety of backgrounds,the French government commissioned psychologist Alfred Binet todevelop procedures to identify students who might require special help.animal cognitionThe study of animal learning, memory,thinking, and language; also calledcomparative cognition.intelligenceThe global capacity to think rationally, actpurposefully, and deal effectively with theenvironment.