scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Why g matters: The complexity of everyday life

01 Jan 1997-Intelligence (JAI)-Vol. 24, Iss: 1, pp 79-132
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide evidence that intelligence has pervasive utility in work settings because it is essentially the ability to deal with cognitive complexity, in particular, with complex information processing, and the more complex a work task, the greater the advantages that higher g confers in performing it well.
About: This article is published in Intelligence.The article was published on 1997-01-01 and is currently open access. It has received 1300 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Everyday life & Cognitive complexity.

Summary (1 min read)

Why g Matters: The Complexity of Everyday Life

  • This article provides evidence that g has pervasive utility in work settings because it is essentially the ability to deal with cognitive complexity, in particular, with complex information processing.
  • Few claims in the social sciences are backed by such massive evidence but remain so hotly contested in public discourse.
  • Besides demonstrating that g is important in practical affairs, I seek to demonstrate why intelligence has such surprisingly pervasive importance in the lives of individuals.
  • I then use both the employment and literacy data to sketch a portrait of life’s challenges and opportunities at different levels of intelligence.

WHAT DOES “IMPORTANT” MEAN?

  • The nature of the job and its context seem to determine whether g has any direct effect on task proficiency, net of job knowlege.
  • As is well known in psychometrics (see also Gordon, 1997), the fact that an individual passes or fails any single test item says little about that person’s general intelligence level.

INFLUENCE OF INTELLIGENCE ON OVERALL LIFE OUTCOMES

  • The effects of intelligence-like other psychological traits-are probabilistic, not deterministic.
  • White adults in this range marry, work, and have children (Hermstein & Murray, 1994), but, as Table 10 shows, they are nonetheless at great risk of living in poverty (30%), bearing children out of wedlock (32%), and becoming chronic welfare dependents (31%).
  • At this IQ level, fewer than half the high school graduates and none of the dropouts meet the military’s minimum AFQT enlistment standards.
  • Most occupations are within reach cognitively, because these individuals learn complex material fairly easily and independently.
  • Such as divorce, illness, and occasional unemployment, they rarely become trapped in poverty or social pathology.

THE FUTURE

  • Complexity enriches social and cultural life, but it also risks leaving some individuals behind.
  • Society has become more complex-and g loaded-as the authors have entered the information age and postindustrial economy.
  • Accordingly, organizations are “flatter” (have fewer hierarchical levels), and increasing numbers of jobs require high-level cognitive and interpersonal skills (Camevale, 1991; Cascio, 1995; Hunt, 1995; Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, 1991).
  • There is evidence that increasing proportions of individuals with below-average IQs are having trouble adapting to their increasingly complex modern life (Granat & Granat, 1978) and that social inequality along IQ lines is increasing (Herrnstein & Murray, 1994).
  • As the military experience also illustrates, however, what is good pedagogy for the low-aptitude learner may be inappropriate for the high-aptitude person.

Did you find this useful? Give us your feedback

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, criticas al mejoramiento cognitivo mediante el uso de agentes farmacologicos and las discute desde una perspectiva liberal.
Abstract: El articulo presenta criticas al mejoramiento cognitivo mediante el uso de agentes farmacologicos y las discute desde una perspectiva liberal. Estas criticas apuntan a las consecuencias del mejoramiento cognitivo en terceros y en los agentes, asi como en valores independientes. De acuerdo al articulo estas criticas no son convincentes. Por el contrario, bajo ciertos supuestos se argumenta que hay buenas razones a favor del acceso libre al mejoramiento cognitivo. Palabras claves: mejoramiento cognitivo farmacologico, danos en terceros, danos en el agente, valores independientes, liberalismo.

1 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...5; Salkever, 1995; Gottfredson, 1997, 2004; Whalley y Deary, 2001)....

    [...]

27 Apr 2017
TL;DR: The Grit Inventory (GI) as discussed by the authors is a scale for measuring academic grit, defined as persistence and passion for the achievement of long-term goals, which is used to measure academic grit.
Abstract: Defined as persistence and passion for the achievement of long-term goals, grit is considered vital in determining success within academic contexts. Whilst scales do presently exist to measure grit as a holistic construct, no scale currently exists to measure academic-specific grit. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to develop a new scale for the measurement of academic grit. The newly developed scale, titled the Grit Inventory (GI), was assessed for psychometric soundness utilizing a sample of 109 undergraduate psychology students from The University of Queensland, Australia. Results showed the GI to have sound validity and good internal consistency. Nine of the scale’s twelve items had acceptable item discrimination indices. It was proposed that the GI be used in conjunction with ability tests to determine university admissions, granted that future research could demonstrate predictive validity for the scale. Keywords: grit, grittiness, persistence, academic, academic grittiness, academic grit.

1 citations


Cites background from "Why g matters: The complexity of ev..."

  • ...This is demonstrated in the multitude of established measures formulated for academic ability, compared to the very few formulated for grit (Duckworth & Quinn, 2009; Bridgeman, McCamley-Jenkins, & Ervin, 2000; Gottfredson, 1997; Hartigan & Wigdor, 1989)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , a diagnostic test of cognitive abilities (DTCA) was created by the authors of the article for the assessment of primary school students' cognitive abilities, which was based on Reuven Feuerstein's theory of dynamic cognitive modality assessment, the problem-solving model, and followed the mathematics curriculum for grade 4.
Abstract: Cognitive skills predict academic performance, so schools that try to improve academic performance might also improve cognitive skills. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of achievements in mathematics on cognitive ability in primary school. Methods: Participants: 100 girls and 102 boys aged 9–10 years (the fourth grade) were selected from three schools. A diagnostic test of cognitive abilities (DTCA) was created by the authors of the article for the assessment of primary school students’ cognitive abilities. The diagnostic cognitive ability test was based on Reuven Feuerstein’s theory of dynamic cognitive modality assessment, the problem-solving model, and followed the mathematics curriculum for grade 4. The tasks of the test were distributed according to the cognitive function: systematic exploration, spatial orientation, sequencing, image recognition, recognizing and understanding relationships, collecting and processing information, algorithm development, data management (classification), and construction of combinations. Achievements in mathematics: they were collected systematically using short- and medium-term mathematics tests, and the levels of achaievement were defined of grade 4 primary school students to assess individual learner performance, anticipate their learning strengths and weaknesses, and shape their subsequent learning process. Results: With regard to the relationships between cognitive functions and achievement level, Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed the relationships between the following cognitive functions: systematic exploration and spatial orientation (Spearman q = 0.276, p = 0.022), systematic exploration and designing an algorithm development (Spearman q = 0.351, p = 0.003), spatial orientation and data management (Spearman q = 0.274, p = 0.023), sequencing and combination construction (Spearman q = 0.275, p = 0.022), and sequencing and recognizing and understanding relationships (Spearman q = 0.243, p = 0.044). Conclusions: (1) The internal validity of the diagnostic test of cognitive abilities was supported by significant correlations between cognitive functions and mathematics achievement. This suggests that this methodology of the diagnostic cognitive ability test can be used to assess the cognitive abilities of primary school students. (2) The diagnostic test of cognitive abilities showed that the majority of primary school students reached higher levels of achievement in a systematic inquiry (systematic, non-impulsive, planned behavior when collecting data or checking information). A difference was observed in the ability of students to navigate in space and follow directions for primary school students at a satisfactory or higher level. Primary school students’ performance in identifying the rule for the sequencing of elements, finding missing elements, and extending the sequences was at the basic and advanced levels. (3) The results of the study showed the reciprocal correlation between achievements in mathematics and cognitive function of primary school students. The two phases that caused difficulties for students were revealed: understanding the problem and carrying out the plan phase.

1 citations

DOI
29 Jul 2020
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a vision about the requirements for the realization of a scientific investigation, transfiguring the traditional vision of scientific thought while classifying leading scientific communities, and express a proposal of five indications for the construction of knowledge, starting from the proposed tacit figure, the use of language, the concretization of action up to what emerges in a unified knowledge.
Abstract: The objective of the article is to present a vision about the requirements for the realization of a scientific investigation, transfiguring the traditional vision of scientific thought while classifying leading scientific communities. Equivalently, it expresses a proposal of five indications for the construction of knowledge, starting from the proposed tacit figure, the use of language, the concretization of action up to what emerges in a unified knowledge. These collections promote an awakening towards the personal implications and the responsibility involved in researching human, social and even basic sciences.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
04 Dec 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a research protocol for a cluster randomized trial to investigate the impact of an innovative social and financial skill teaching program for upper primary children aged between 9-16 years, across two districts in India.
Abstract: This paper presents a research protocol for a cluster randomized trial to investigate the impact of an innovative social and financial skill teaching program for upper primary children aged between 9-16 years, across two districts in Himachal Pradesh, India. A total of 74 schools were randomly allocated to the treatment or control group. Outcomes to be measured are level of self-efficacy, knowledge of basic financial concepts, ability to solve simple financial tasks, level of patience and risk preference, amount of money saved, level of numerical ability, and knowledge on civil rights and responsibilities. The evaluation is funded by Echidna Giving.

1 citations


Cites background from "Why g matters: The complexity of ev..."

  • ...Cognitive skills are important determinants of many economic and social outcomes and are defined as a general mental capability involving reasoning, problem-solving, planning, abstract thinking, complex idea comprehension, and learning from experience (Gottfredson, 1997)....

    [...]

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ten-year edition of the 10th anniversary edition as mentioned in this paper is devoted to the theory of multiple intelligences and its application in the socialization of human intelligence through Symbols Implications And Applications.
Abstract: * Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition Background * The Idea of Multiple Intelligences * Intelligence: Earlier Views * Biological Foundations of Intelligence * What Is an Intelligence? The Theory * Linguistic Intelligence * Musical Intelligence * Logical-Mathematical Intelligence * Spatial Intelligence * Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence * The Personal Intelligences * A Critique of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences * The Socialization of Human Intelligences through Symbols Implications And Applications * The Education of Intelligences * The Application of Intelligences

11,512 citations

Book
01 Jan 1983
TL;DR: The Tenth Anniversary Edition of Intelligence explains the development of intelligence in the 21st Century through the applications of language, linguistics, mathematics, and more.
Abstract: * Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition Background * The Idea of Multiple Intelligences * Intelligence: Earlier Views * Biological Foundations of Intelligence * What Is an Intelligence? The Theory * Linguistic Intelligence * Musical Intelligence * Logical-Mathematical Intelligence * Spatial Intelligence * Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence * The Personal Intelligences * A Critique of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences * The Socialization of Human Intelligences through Symbols Implications And Applications * The Education of Intelligences * The Application of Intelligences

9,611 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the relation of the Big Five personality dimensions (extraversion, emotional stability, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience) to three job performance criteria (job proficiency, training proficiency, and personnel data) for five occupational groups (professionals, police, managers, sales, and skilled/semi-skilled).
Abstract: This study investigated the relation of the “Big Five” personality dimensions (Extraversion, Emotional Stability, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience) to three job performance criteria (job proficiency, training proficiency, and personnel data) for five occupational groups (professionals, police, managers, sales, and skilled/semi-skilled). Results indicated that one dimension of personality, Conscientiousness, showed consistent relations with all job performance criteria for all occupational groups. For the remaining personality dimensions, the estimated true score correlations varied by occupational group and criterion type. Extraversion was a valid predictor for two occupations involving social interaction, managers and sales (across criterion types). Also, both Openness to Experience and Extraversion were valid predictors of the training proficiency criterion (across occupations). Other personality dimensions were also found to be valid predictors for some occupations and some criterion types, but the magnitude of the estimated true score correlations was small (ρ < .10). Overall, the results illustrate the benefits of using the 5-factor model of personality to accumulate and communicate empirical findings. The findings have numerous implications for research and practice in personnel psychology, especially in the subfields of personnel selection, training and development, and performance appraisal.

8,018 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An up-to-date handbook on conceptual and methodological issues relevant to the study of industrial and organizational behavior is presented in this paper, which covers substantive issues at both the individual and organizational level in both theoretical and practical terms.
Abstract: An up-to-date handbook on conceptual and methodological issues relevant to the study of industrial and organizational behavior. Chapters contributed by leading experts from the academic and business communities cover substantive issues at both the individual and organizational level, in both theoretical and practical terms.

7,809 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Because of the extraordinary clarity and importance of the Commission's Report, the editors of the Communica t ions decided to reprint the Report's main section in its entirety and present it to you here.
Abstract: released a remarkab le report, A Nation at Risk. This Report has s t imulated in the media considerable discussion about the problems in our schools, speculation about the causes, and ass ignment of blame. Astonishingly, f e w of the media reports have focused on the specific f indings and recommendat ions of the Commission. A lmos t none of the med ia reports tells that the Commission i tsel f re frained f rom speculation on causes and f rom assignment of blame. Because of the extraordinary clarity and importance of the Commission's Report, the editors of the Communica t ions decided to reprint the Report's main section in its entirety. We are p leased to present it to you here.

5,832 citations