Deck 10: Mental Ability

Question 1

According to the findings of most research studies,how do common environment influences and genetic influences on mental abilities change between childhood and adulthood?

A)Both kinds of influences remain roughly unchanged (and moderately strong).
B)Both kinds of influences become stronger.
C)Both kinds of influences become weaker.
D)Common environment influences become stronger,and genetic influences become weaker.
E)Common environment influences become weaker,and genetic influences become stronger.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Which of the following was NOT among the seven broad factors of mental ability identified by Thurstone?

A)Verbal fluency
B)Perceptual speed
C)Memory
D)Attention span
E)Reasoning

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What are the typical findings observed with regard to the average mental abilities of men,compared with those of women?

A)On average,men have somewhat lower levels of perceptual speed and memory,but have somewhat higher levels of spatial visualization.
B)On average,men have somewhat lower levels of perceptual speed and memory,and also have somewhat lower levels of spatial visualization.
C)On average,men have somewhat higher levels of perceptual speed and memory,but have somewhat lower levels of spatial visualization.
D)On average,men have somewhat higher levels of perceptual speed and memory,and also have somewhat higher levels of spatial visualization.
E)None of the above;men and women have the same average levels of these mental abilities.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following results,as observed in previous studies of family similarity in mental abilities,indicates that there are substantial effects of the womb environment on mental abilities?

A)Identical twins show higher correlations for mental ability than do fraternal twins.
B)Fraternal twins show higher correlations for mental ability than do nontwin siblings.
C)Biological nontwin siblings show higher correlations for mental ability than do adoptive siblings.
D)All of the above.
E)None of the above.

Question 5

As initially proposed,Spearman's "g" factor and Thurstone's set of "primary mental ability" factors were not compatible with one another.Which of the following accurately describes subsequent research findings on this issue?

A)Thurstone's factors are largely unnecessary,because they can be almost fully explained by the g factor.
B)No substantial g factor really exists,and Thurstone's factors are mutually unrelated aspects of mental ability.
C)Both the g factor and the several additional factors are needed,but g is larger and more important than any other factor.
D)Both the g factor and the several additional factors are needed,but g is smaller and less important than most of the other factors.
E)None of the above;research findings have not resolved this issue.

Question 6

Spearman concluded that "g" (i.e. ,"general intelligence")was best measured by which kinds of mental ability tasks? (In other words,which kinds of tasks had the highest g-loadings?)

A)Those that possessed only nonverbal content.
B)Those that involved inferring (educing)relations among concepts.
C)Those that depended most on school-related learning.
D)Those that placed the greatest demands on speed.
E)Those that required the generation,rather than the selection,of a correct answer.

Question 7

Previous research has indicated that low levels of IQ in childhood are associated with a shorter life expectancy (i.e. ,higher risk of early death).Which of the following were suggested by Gottfredson and Deary as possible explanations for this relation?
1)Lower IQ in childhood could be due to some already-existing health problems that could mean higher risk of early death
2)Lower IQ in childhood could indicate poor brain functioning,which could mean higher risk of early death
3)Lower IQ in childhood could predict unhealthy behaviors in later life,which could increase the risk of early death
4)Lower IQ in childhood could make one more likely to enter dangerous or stressful occupations,which could increase the risk of early death.

A)1 and 2 only
B)2 and 3 only
C)3 and 4 only
D)1 and 4 only
E)All of these explanations

Question 8

When Binet began developing intelligence tests in the early 20^th century,what was the original purpose of those tests?

A)To identify intelligent soldiers who would make good officers for the French army.
B)To identify mentally retarded children,so that they could be taught at a slower pace.
C)To identify intellectually gifted children,who could be given advanced education.
D)To identify persons who were not mentally competent to testify in French courts.
E)None of the above;the test was intended for research purposes only

Question 9

Much research has examined the relations between the IQ and work-related variables,such as job performance and occupational status.Which of the following statements can accurately describe the results of that research?

A)IQ is correlated with job performance only in jobs whose tasks resemble schoolwork
B)IQ is correlated most strongly with performance in jobs that are more complex
C)The correlation of IQ with occupational status is eliminated by controlling for parental occupational status.
D)A and B
E)B and C

Question 10

According to a recent review of research by Pietschnig et al. ,what is the average correlation between brain size (as measured by MRI scan)and mental ability test scores?

A).00
B).08
C).24
D).48
E).72

Question 11

Which of the following accurately summarizes the results of the study by Kristiansen and Bjerkedal (2007)of IQ and birth order in Norwegian military recruits?

A)Second-borns had lower average IQs than did first-borns,regardless of whether or not the second-borns' older siblings had survived past infancy.
B)Second-borns had lower average IQs than did first-borns only in those cases where the second-borns' older siblings had survived past infancy.
C)Second-borns had the same average IQs as did first-borns,regardless of whether or not the second-borns' older siblings had survived past infancy.
D)Second-borns had the same average IQs as did first-borns only in those cases where the second-borns' older siblings had survived past infancy.
E)Second-borns had higher average IQs than did first borns,regardless of whether or not the second-borns' older siblings had survived past infancy.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the relations of mental ability tests and academic performance,as observed in previous research,is FALSE?

A)Mental ability tests are more strongly correlated with standardized school achievement tests than with academic performance as rated by teachers.
B)The correlation between mental ability tests and school achievement tests is mainly due to the similarity of content (e.g. ,numbers,words)between the two types of tests.
C)The correlation between mental ability tests and academic performance still leaves considerable room for motivation and effort to influence academic performance.
D)Mental ability test scores are substantially correlated with "how far" one pursues one's education (i.e. ,final educational attainment).
E)All of the above.

Question 13

For which of the following kinds of mental ability tasks do older adults perform about as well,on average,as young adults do?

A)Memory
B)Perceptual speed
C)Verbal ability
D)Spatial ability
E)All of the above

Question 14

What does "the principle of the indifference of the indicator" mean?

A)Highly g-loaded tests can contain any kind of content (e.g. ,verbal,numerical,spatial,etc. ).
B)All mental ability tasks are equally good measures of g.
C)Mental ability test performance is most accurately assessed by a neutral,unbiased observer.
D)Individuals make fewer errors on mental ability tests when they are unconcerned about the task,rather than being highly anxious about it.
E)Different methods of factor analysis produce identical estimates of tests' g-loadings.

Question 15

Which of the following statements best summarizes current knowledge of the differences in average mental ability test scores (during adulthood)between persons who were breastfed as infants and persons who were not?

A)Persons who were breastfed as infants score higher on mental ability tests,and this is because the nutritional advantages of breast-feeding cause infants to grow up to be smarter.
B)Persons who were breastfed as infants score higher on mental ability tests,and this is because the mother/infant contact of breast-feeding causes infants to grow up to be smarter.
C)Persons who were breastfed as infants score higher on mental ability tests,and this is because smarter mothers are more likely both to breast-feed and also to have smarter children.
D)Persons who were breastfed as infants do not score any higher (or any lower)on mental ability tests.
E)Persons who were breastfed as infants actually score lower on mental ability tests.

Question 16

According to investigations of the links between IQ and criminal activity,which of the following statements can be considered accurate?

A)Persons who have been caught for committing crimes have lower IQs,on average,than do persons who have not committed crimes.
B)Persons who have committed crimes without being caught have lower IQs,on average,than do persons who have not committed crimes.
C)When socioeconomic status is controlled,there is no relation between lower IQs and higher likelihood of having a criminal record.
D)A and B only.
E)None of the above.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about heritable (genetic)influences on IQ is accurate?

A)The heritability of IQ is higher within better environments.
B)The heritability of IQ is higher within poorer environments.
C)Differences between generations in average IQ test scores must be due to genetic differences.
D)Differences between countries in average IQ test scores must be due to genetic differences.
E)Differences between countries in average IQ test scores cannot be due to genetic differences.

Question 18

In research on the relations between IQ and the speed of the brain,which type of task directly measures the amount of time that a stimulus must be present before the brain can notice that stimulus?

A)Nerve conduction velocity tasks
B)Inspection time tasks
C)Reaction time tasks
D)Both A and C
E)All of the above

Question 19

If a person had a level of g that is one standard deviation above the population average,what would be his or her approximate IQ score?

A)105
B)115
C)125
D)135
E)The IQ score cannot be estimated,because g and IQ are not strongly related.

Question 20

Which of the following summarizes the results of the investigation by Deary et al. (2004),who compared the mental ability test scores of the same group of persons at age 11 and at age 80?

A)Scores at age 11 and age 80 were strongly positively correlated,and scores at age 80 were generally lower than scores at age 11.
B)Scores at age 11 and age 80 were strongly positively correlated,and scores at age 80 were generally about the same as scores at age 11.
C)Scores at age 11 and age 80 were strongly positively correlated,and scores at age 80 were generally higher than scores at age 11.
D)Scores at age 11 and age 80 were very weakly correlated,and scores at age 80 were generally lower than scores at age 11.
E)Scores at age 11 and age 80 were very weakly correlated,and scores at age 80 were generally higher than scores at age 11.

Question 21

Recall Gardner's "Theory of Multiple Intelligences".Which of the statements below can be considered accurate?

A)Some of the abilities considered by Gardner are not usually studied by mental abilities researchers.
B)Some of the abilities considered by Gardner are simply not important in any areas of human activity.
C)The abilities studied by Gardner are roughly uncorrelated with each other,thus undermining the idea of a g factor.
D)All of the above.
E)None of the above.

Question 22

Which of the following describes the pattern of changes in mental ability test scores across generations during the last century,as identified by Flynn?

A)Vocabulary scores and Raven's Matrices scores both increased sharply.
B)Vocabulary scores increased sharply,but Raven's Matrices scores decreased.
C)Vocabulary scores decreased,but Raven's Matrices increased scores sharply.
D)Vocabulary scores increased sharply,but Raven's Matrices scores remained about the same.
E)Vocabulary scores remained about the same,but Raven's Matrices scores increased sharply.

Question 23

According to the results of previous studies of the relations between personality and mental ability,what pattern of test scores would be expected for a group of persons who are very high in Openness to Experience?

A)Higher-than-average scores both on a general knowledge test and also on a mathematical aptitude test.
B)Higher-than-average scores on a general knowledge test,but average scores on a mathematical aptitude test.
C)Average scores on a general knowledge test,but higher-than-average scores on a mathematical aptitude test.
D)Higher-than-average scores on a general knowledge test,but lower-than-average scores on a mathematical aptitude test.
E)Lower-than-average scores on a general knowledge test,but higher-than-average scores on a mathematical aptitude test.

Question 24

According to the distinction between "fluid" and "crystallized" ability,which of the following pairs of mental ability tasks includes two measures of fluid ability?

A)Geometry Problems and Raven's Matrices
B)Geometry Problems and Similarities
C)Geometry Problems and Vocabulary
D)Similarities and Raven's Matrices
E)Similarities and Vocabulary

Question 25

The concept of "emotional intelligence" has been widely studied since the 1990s.Which of the following statements about emotional intelligence most accurately describes the research findings?

A)Self-report measures of emotional intelligence actually assess various socially desirable personality characteristics,not a distinct kind of ability.
B)Performance-based tests of emotional intelligence measure something are essentially uncorrelated with general mental ability as measured by IQ tests.
C)Compared with women,men have somewhat higher average scores on performance-based tests of emotional intelligence.
D)People with higher levels of emotional intelligence actually have much higher rates of deviant behavior.
E)All of the above.

Question 26

Some investigations of the psychological characteristics of husbands and wives have examined the question of spousal similarity in mental abilities.What results have been obtained in those studies?

A)There is almost no assortative mating either for verbal comprehension or for nonverbal reasoning ability.
B)There is almost no assortative mating for verbal comprehension,but considerable assortative mating for nonverbal reasoning ability.
C)There is considerable assortative mating for verbal comprehension,but almost no assortative mating for nonverbal reasoning ability.
D)There is considerable assortative mating both for verbal comprehension and for nonverbal reasoning ability.
E)A is true for marriages within a culture,but D is true for cross-cultural marriages.