This activity will explore the concept of intelligence and some of the methods of measuring intelligence.
Intelligence and Adaptability
• What does it mean to say that intelligence is a social construct?
Intelligence is a social construct because it was created by Western civilization as a means to measure how smart an individual is. It has been deemed a racist measurement tool for the way it has been used throughout history to report that Caucasians have a higher intelligence than other races. Basically the idea of intelligence is man-made, therefore a social construct.
• What do two children from dramatically different cultures (a boy working on an arrow and a girl working on a computer) have in common?
The boys working on an arrow and the girl working on a computer have in common their ability to utilize what they have learned from those around them, whether it is teachers, parents, or other adults, how to use the tool they are using. A process of learning is evident in both of these children regardless of what the actual “tool” may be.
Verbal Versus Nonverbal Abilities
• Describe one verbal and one performance subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
(WAIS).
I will explain one verbal and one performance subtest of the WAIS III:
The Verbal IQ test involves verbal comprehension and working memory through testing VCI and WMI. The Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) tests information, similarities, and vocabulary. While the Working Memory Index (WMI) tests arithmetic and digit span.
The Performance IQ test involves the POI and PSI. The Perceptual Organization Index (POI) tests block design, matrix reasoning, and picture completion. The Processing Speed Index (PSI) tests the digit symbol coding and symbol search.
Multiple Intelligences
• Name and describe four of Gardner’s eight “intelligences.”
Linguistic Intelligence- one’s ability to accurately and intelligently express one’s ideas to another.
Musical Intelligence- one’s ability to hear and create music with consideration of the various tones, pitches, and rhythms that are used in creating a piece of music.
Spatial Intelligence- one’s ability to know how to manipulate space and structures in a useful manner.
Naturalistic Intelligence- one’s ability to understand and work well with the elements of nature.
Match Sternberg’s three “intelligences” with their descriptors:
C. Analytic A. Problem-solving in everyday tasks
A. Practical B. Problem-solving in novel tasks
B. ___Creative C. Problem-solving in structured, well-defined tasks
Emotional Intelligence
• Define “emotional intelligence.”
Emotional intelligence is a concept that measures how aware one is of their own feeling and the feelings of others around them. But not only should one be aware of these feelings, the more one understand how to handle situations with this awareness is a basis for how emotionally intelligent the individual is. For someone who knows how to manage his or her feelings, as well as maturely respond to the way another feels would mean that the individual has a high emotional intelligence score.
