A Researcher Administers a Certain Intelligence Test to a Large

question 106

Multiple Choice

A researcher administers a certain intelligence test to a large sample of adults. The test contains verbal, numerical, and spatial subtests. The researcher finds a correlation coefficient of .15 between verbal and numerical scores, a correlation coefficient of .75 between numerical and spatial scores, and a correlation of .10 between verbal and spatial scores. How might the researcher interpret this pattern of results with respect to (i) the view that intelligence is a unitary ability and (ii) the idea that intelligence consists of multiple, independent, specialized abilities?

• A) The data support the idea that intelligence is a unitary ability.
• B) The data support the idea that intelligence consists of multiple, specialized components.
• C) The data support an intermediary view.
• D) The data are uninformative with respect to these views of intelligence.

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Definitions:

Effectiveness

The degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result or outcome.

Response Differentiation

A process in operant conditioning where behaviors are modified by being reinforced only when they meet a certain criterion.

Positive Reinforcer

A stimulus which, when presented after a behavior, increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Reinforce

To strengthen a behavior by providing a consequence that increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.