INTELLIGENCE

There are basically two camps on the theory of intelligence: those who believe in one unilinear construct of general intelligence (g), and those who believe in many different intelligences. Binet founded the French school of intelligence, in which intelligence tests were regarded as a practical means of separating the bright from the dull. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was regarded as simply an average of numerous dissimilar abilities, not as a real thing with definite properties that could be studied. Galton founded the English school of intelligence, in which it was believed that intelligence is a real faculty with a biological basis, and could be studied using reaction times on simple cognitive tasks.

The English school made a great leap forward with Spearman's invention of factor analysis. Using this technique Spearman found that all tests of intelligence are positively correlated (this is what it means to have a general factor, also called a positive manifold). However, Thurstone later disputed the prominence assigned to general intelligence by rotating the factors. In this way he found several primary mental abilities, instead of the one found by Spearman.

PROPONENTS OF ONE GENERAL INTELLIGENCEPROPONENTS OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
Galton
Spearman
Eysenck
Jensen		Thurstone
Gardner
Gould
Sternberg

Activity: The readings covered in detail the question of one versus many intelligences. Do you believe there is one intelligence or that there are many? How would you support your conclusions?

Activity: Intelligence testing has generated a great deal of controversy. Do you agree with or oppose the idea that people can be rated on a unilinear scale of general intelligence?

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