Deck 8: C: Intelligence and Individual Differences in Cognition

Question 1

Sternberg said that successful intelligence involves three distinct abilities. Name and briefly describe them.

Answer 1

A good answer will include the following key points:
∙ Analytic ability: Analyzing problems and generating different solutions
∙ Creative ability: Dealing adaptively with novel situations and problems
∙ Practical ability: Knowing what solution or plan will actually work

Question 2

Describe four factors that place individuals at risk for intellectual disability. Do the factors necessarily cause intellectual disabilities? Explain.

Answer 2

A good answer will include the following key points:
Four factors are:
• Biomedical factors, including chromosomal disorders, malnutrition, and traumatic brain injury
• Social factors, such as poverty and impaired parent-child interactions
• Behavioural factors, such as child neglect or domestic violence
• Educational factors, including impaired parenting and inadequate special education services
No individual factor in this list necessarily leads to intellectual disability. Instead, the risk for intellectual disability grows as more of these are present.

Question 3

Your friend Clyde would like his five-year-old daughter Bonnie to become a violin virtuoso at a young age. Clyde has seen 12- and 13-year-olds winning national competitions on television and he is wondering what he should do to increase the likelihood that Bonnie will be one of those adolescents in a few short years. What can you tell Clyde about the prerequisites for exceptional talent?

Answer 3

A good answer will be similar to the following:
First, children who develop exceptional talent in an area love the subject and have a very strong desire to master the subject. Second, children with exceptional talent began instruction in the given area at an early age and they received instruction from inspiring and talented teachers. Third, the parents of these children are committed to promoting the children's talents. Clyde sounds as if he is committed to supporting Bonnie's talent and he is willing to find inspiring and talented instructors for Bonnie. The critical question is, does Bonnie love to play the violin and does she have a strong desire to master playing the violin. If Bonnie isn't interested, it will be difficult for her to become a virtuoso in spite of Clyde's wishes.

Question 4

Bruno et al (2007) studied the ability of reading disabled children to hear familiar words presented auditorily. Describe the general findings of their study.

Question 5

Your friends Bernie and Miriam have a six-month-old daughter, Rachel. Rachel was tested using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and she received a very high score. Bernie and Miriam are convinced that this means Rachel will be gifted when she is older. What can you tell your friends about the relation between infant intelligence test scores and later IQ that might contradict their beliefs?

Question 6

Compare the advantages of group intelligence tests to those of individual intelligence tests.

Question 7

Your friends Andre and Mia are both above average in intelligence and they are concerned that their new daughter Diane will be intelligent also. They want to know what they can do to shape Diane's environment to increase the chances that she will be above average in intelligence. What can you tell them about the effects of heredity and environment on intelligence?

Question 8

Briefly describe the three components that define a "learning disability."

Question 9

Your friend Elena has been asked to supervise an intervention program that is aimed at preparing disadvantaged children for school. Some people have objected to the program, claiming that it will be expensive and that it is unlikely to work. Based on the results of other Head Start programs, do you think that intervention will be effective? Is it worth it? Why or why not?

Question 10

Name and briefly define the nine intelligences in Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences.