PSY 12000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Heritability, Intellectual Disability, Stereotype Threat

• School: Purdue University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 12000
• Professor: Susan Swithers

Document Summary

Psychometric: the use of psychological tests to measure the mind and mental processes. Intelligence is determined by administering a variety of tests that measure specific mental skills such as verbal and memory. Results are analyzed and conclusions are drawn about our mental abilities. First attempts at psychometrics carried out by galtron (1822-1911) Conducted batteries of sensory, physical, intellectual tests. Didnt really catch on bc it didnt really say anything about real world experience. Factor analysis: a statistical procedure that groups together related items on tests by analyzing the correlations among test scores. Ex. it is possible that each of us has a single underlying ability- intelligence- that helps to explain our performance on lots of mental tests. There could also be multiple factors involved, we could be good a remembering things and not good at mathematical problem solving. When spearman applied factor analysis to the testing of mental ability, he discovered evidence for general intellectual ability.