which theory of intelligence better thorndike or thurston and why
Answers
Characteristics of people with regard to their intellectual activities and abilities indicate that the intelligence cannot be a single function or capacity.
There must be various components for intelligence. Psychologists have attempted to analyze these components, which has resulted in the development of different theories.
These theories have been grouped into two categories—viz., Factor theories and cognitive theories.
1. Factor Theories:
On the basis of factor analysis psychologists have developed their own theories.
Some of the important theories are:
a) Thurston’s multifactor theory:
Thurston (1946) rejected the General theory of intelligence and instead presented his own theory.
This theory states that the human intelligence includes 7 primary mental abilities. Though these abilities appear to be different, they are related to each other. They are:
Primary mental abilities
Thurston has developed a test called Primary Mental Abilities test to assess these factors.
b) Spearman’s two-factor theory:
This as a very popular theory. According to Spearman intelligence is the ability to think constructively. Spearman (1927) proposes that intelligence consists of two abilities, viz. ‘G’- general ability and ‘S’- special ability.
General factor or ability works in conjunction with special ability. In all intellectual activities of the human being along with general ability, there will also be a special ability which is related to such action.
c) Multi factor theory of intelligence:
Proposed by EL Thorndike. According to Thorndike, intelligence is not a single factor like general intelligence rather it is a combination of multiple factors.
These factors include:
(a) Abstract intelligence, (b) Concrete (technical) intelligence, (c) Social intelligence, etc. Thorndike states, each factor is an independent element and hence it is not possible to combine all these elements.
d) Guilford’s tri-dimensional theory:
JP Guilford (1961) developed a model of intelligence in which he explained that every intellectual activity can be described in terms of three different basic dimensions, viz., operations- the act of thinking, contents- the terms in which we think like words, symbols, etc. and products- the ideas we develop.
He has proposed his tri-dimensional theory of intelligence represented by cubical model. This model is provided with 120 primary abilities, and is a combination of 4 contents, 5 operations and 6 products (4x5x6=120).
Guilford's model of the Structure of Intellect
The Figure 3.12 gives us the comprehensive idea of the primary mental abilities included in intelligence. However, Guilford (1967) has expanded his cube-shaped model of intellect to include 150 factors, which includes 5 contents, 6 products and 5 operations (5x6x5=150).
This may be understood by studying this example: A child is asked to determine the day of the week on a particular date with the help of a calendar. The task involves operations like convergent thinking, memory and cognition.
In carrying out these operations, he has to make use of the contents. In this particular case, he will make use of semantics, i.e. reading and understanding of the printed words and figures indicating days and dates of a particular month in the calendar.
By carrying out mental operations with the help of the contents he will finally arrive at the products. The day of the week to which the date in question refers represents the factor known as ‘relations’.
2. Cognitive Theories of Intelligence:
These theories are otherwise called process-oriented theories. They focus on intellectual processes; the patterns of thinking and reasoning in people, used to solve problems.
These theories consider intelligence as a process which helps to deal with problems and to find out the answers. They are called cognitive theories because of their focus on fundamental cognitive processes. The important theories are:
Cattell and Horn’s Theory:
Cattell (1971) and Horn (1978) have proposed this theory in which they have distinguished two types of intelligence.