GRE Subject Test: Psychology : Intelligence Development

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Intelligence Development

According to Erik Erikson, the parent's role in stimulating curiosity and reinforcing a sence of accomplishment in intellectual success so that the child develops a sense of competence occurs during which developmental stage?

Possible Answers:

Adolescence (age 12 to 18 years)

Early childhood (age 2 to 6 years)

Toddler (age 1 to 2 years)

Grade school years (age 6 to 12 years)

Infancy (age 0 to 1 year)

Correct answer:

Grade school years (age 6 to 12 years)

Explanation:

During the grade school years (age 6 to 12 years) the parenteral role is to stimulate curiosity and pleasure in intellectual success so that the child develops a sense of competence, as opposed to feelings of inferiority and expectations of failure. 

Example Question #2 : Intelligence Development

Which of the following types of intelligence derived from Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory is concerned with the ability to solve problems?

Possible Answers:

Linguistic

Spatial

Logical-mathematical

Interpersonal

Correct answer:

Logical-mathematical

Explanation:

Gardner's "logical-mathematical" intelligence, the correct response, refers to the ability to analyze problems, solve mathematical equations, detect patterns, and think logically. Multiple theories of intelligence have been developed within the field of Intelligence Development.  Howard Gardner is one of these theorists. He provides a seven-faceted model of intelligence that includes the types listed in the response choices. "Linguistic" is incorrect as it refers to the individual’s command of language. "Spatial" is incorrect because it refers to the individual’s ability to manipulate and work with physical objects. "Interpersonal" is also incorrect because it captures one’s ability to successfully navigate social interactions and relationships. 

 

Example Question #3 : Intelligence Development

According to Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, there are __________ (how many) cognitive levels? 

Possible Answers:

four

seven

six

five

Correct answer:

six

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom and his followers posited that by assessing a student's level of intellectual capacity, educators could best meet and test their students' learning development. 

Example Question #1 : Intelligence Development

Psychological researchers have proposed an explanation(s) for the Flynn Effect. Their results point to which of the following?:

Possible Answers:

Improved nutrition

Decreases in infectious diseases

All of these

Increased years of schooling

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

The Flynn Effect can be described as the significant statistical research finding that intelligence, as measured by standardized tests, has increased across time in first world nations. That is, the average scores on intelligence tests have been climbing over the last several decades. For example, where the average score on a standardized intelligence test in the 1950's was 100, examinees today would score on average closer to 105. This has required a restandardization of normative data and has led researchers to investigate the phenomenon. 

 

Example Question #4 : Intelligence Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives describes a student's ability to compare and discriminate between ideas as well as make judgements as to the purpose of those ideas?

Possible Answers:

Application

Synthesis

Evaluation

Analysis

Correct answer:

Evaluation

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom and his followers posited that by assessing a student's level of intellectual capacity, educators could best meet and test their students' learning development. In Bloom's 6-tiered model, "evaluation" is at the peak and refers to the ability to render informed judgements by effectively comparing and discriminating among ideas.

Example Question #5 : Intelligence Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives requires students to identify patterns and/or meanings?

Possible Answers:

Evaluation

Application

Synthesis

Analysis

Correct answer:

Analysis

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. In Bloom's Taxonomy, "analysis" is a higher level skill which requires the ability of the learner to deconstruct information into its various parts in such a way that the relationship and order between those parts can be clearly expressed.  "Application" is a lower level ability, while the other two selections ("synthesis" and "evaluation") supercede analysis in complexity.

Example Question #6 : Intelligence Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives requires students to use old ideas to create new ones?

Possible Answers:

Analysis

Synthesis

Application

Evaluation

Correct answer:

Synthesis

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. According to Bloom, the level of "synthesis" is being exercised when the student is peicing together elments or parts to form a whole. 

Example Question #7 : Intelligence Development

Which theorist of intelligence development proposed that there is a general factor that accounts for and underlies intelligent behavior?

Possible Answers:

Charles Spearman

Alfred Binet

Robert Sternburg

Louis Thurstone

Correct answer:

Charles Spearman

Explanation:

Spearman's theory of intelligence development is famous for its "g" factor, that is a general underlying intelligence that accounts for mental performance. This should not be confused with "s" factors which do not refer to Spearman's factors. Rather, "s" factors refer to specific intellectual abilities which build on the underlying "g" factor. The other theorists listed as possibilities all considered intelligence to be comprised of multiple facets with no single underlying factor.

Example Question #8 : Intelligence Development

Which theorist proposed a theory of intelligence development that is based on the information-processing approach?

Possible Answers:

Daniel Goleman

Alfred Binet

Howard Gardner

Robert Sternberg

Correct answer:

Robert Sternberg

Explanation:

Inspired by technological innovations with computers, Robert Sternberg proposed his information processing theory of intelligence wherein our intellectual ability was proposed to be comprised of three different components: Metacomponents, performance components and knowledge-acquisition components. Using computer analogies, these components work together as processors and memory stores capable of carrying out mental tasks. On the other hand, Gardner focused on types of intelligence and not on the way intelligence was processed. Binet's approach was similar in this regard. As for Goleman, he focused on emotion and an individual's ability to manage his own emotions as well as respond effectively to the emotions of others. 

 

Example Question #9 : Intelligence Development

Which theorist of intelligence development popularized the concept of Emotional Intelligence?

Possible Answers:

Daniel Goleman

Howard Gardner

David Wechsler

Alfred Binet

Correct answer:

Daniel Goleman

Explanation:

Daniel Goleman's contributed to the field of intelligence development in a major way by drawing attention to the importance of emotions as a marker of sucess in personal and interpersonal functioning. He posited that those with high levels of emotional intelligence were just as likely to acheive the goals and marks of sucess as those with standard indicators of high intelligence (i.e., strong performance on fluid, crystallized, perceptual, and working memory tasks). Binet and Wechsler were proponents of the standard indicators of intelligence just referred to in the previous sentence. Gardner had a broader concept of intelligence that included intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects which are comparable to Goleman's model; however, Gardner's model did not focus wholly and exclusively on emotion the way Goleman's did.  

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