Which of the following statements about Charles Spearman is false?
A. He believed intelligence could be measured and compared between individuals.
B. He divided intelligence into two components: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.
C. He focused on the commonalities among various intellectual abilities and de-emphasized what made each unique.
D. He believed intelligence consisted of a general factor called g.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: B. He divided intelligence into two components: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.
Explanation:
Charles Spearman was a British psychologist best known for his theory of general intelligence, often referred to as the g factor. His work laid the foundation for understanding intelligence as a measurable, unified construct. Spearman proposed that intelligence is largely determined by one overarching factor – the g factor – which underlies performance on a wide variety of cognitive tasks.
Why Options A, C, and D are True:
- A. He believed intelligence could be measured and compared between individuals.
This is true. Spearman believed intelligence was a quantifiable trait that could be measured through intelligence testing, and he used statistical methods like factor analysis to support this idea. - C. He focused on the commonalities among various intellectual abilities and de-emphasized what made each unique.
This is also true. Spearman was primarily interested in what different cognitive tasks had in common, which led him to conclude that a single general intelligence factor (g) influences all intellectual activities. - D. He believed intelligence consisted of a general factor called g.
This is a key point in Spearman’s theory. He identified the g factor as the core of intelligence, supported by empirical evidence that people who perform well in one cognitive area tend to do well in others.
Why Option B is False:
- B. He divided intelligence into two components: crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence.
This statement is false because this distinction was made by Raymond Cattell, not Spearman. Cattell expanded on Spearman’s work and proposed that intelligence consists of two main components:- Fluid intelligence: the ability to solve novel problems, think abstractly, and adapt to new situations.
- Crystallized intelligence: the accumulation of knowledge and skills gained through experience and education.
In summary, while Spearman was foundational in the study of intelligence with his g factor theory, the idea of fluid and crystallized intelligence belongs to Cattell, making option B the false statement.