Chapter 6 Individual Differences

Work Psychology International College at Beijing China Agricultural University Fall Term 2006

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Intelligence & Intelligence Testing

Few psychological concepts received more attention & resisted clarification of definition What it has become is what intelligence tests measure

....manifested in abilities such as reasoning, comprehension, judgment and insight etc.

Early mental ability testing Cattell, 1890; Galton, 1890 Beginnings of modern paradigm for intelligence testing Binet & Simon (1905-61)
Attempted to identify intellectual ability disregarding intervening variables (SES, instruction) Developed battery of tests focusing on higher mental processes (attention, memory, thinking and other cognitive processes) Recommended specific testing procedures based on maximal performance
Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

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Structural Models of General Intelligence

Spearman - early 1900s hierarchical model of general intelligence (g) Guilfords Model of Intellect (1920s) & Thurstone emphasises not intelligence but intelligences and differentiates between e.g. ability to memorise material versus generating new ideas Major influence in todays tests designed to assess specific abilities within the given range of comprehension, reasoning or evaluation
Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

SLIDE 3.4 SLIDE 3.4

Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

SLIDE 3.5

Hierarchical Model of Intelligence

General Intelligence

Verbal Education

Spatial/ Mechanical

Verbal

Numerical

Spatial

Mechanical

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Specific Skill

Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

SLIDE 3.6

Personality
Personality: characteristic patterns of behaviour and modes of thinking that determine a persons unique way of interacting with the environment Theoretical models include;

Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Social Learning, Type, Trait/Psychometric - (e.g. Costa & McCrae, Eysenck, Cattell)
Trait - any persisting characteristic (emotional, behavioural, cognitive) which influences the way personality is manifested in a relatively permanent and consistent way Measures used in occupational applications are often traitbased psychometrics
Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

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Overview of Personality Approaches in Selection

The Big Five (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. e.g NEO, Goldberg) Eysencks 3 factor model (Psychoticism, Extroversion, Neuroticism) Cattells 16 Personality Factors (16PF measure) Occupational Personality Questionnaire OPQ: (SHL) MBTI (Jung) - (Extroversion - Introversion, Sensing Intuition, Thinking - Feeling, Judging - Perceiving)
Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

SLIDE 3.8

Eysencks 3 Factor Model

Introversion - Extroversion: sociable, lively, active, assertive, dominant, venturesome Neuroticism - Stability: anxious, depressed, tense, low self-esteem, emotional, moody Psychoticism - Normality: aggressive, egocentric, impulsive, creative tough-minded

Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005

SLIDE 3.9

The Big Five

Current acceptance of 5 dimensions of personality (universal template) Costa & McCrae (1980-90s); Goldberg (1990s) Extroversion - warmth, gregarious, activity Neuroticism - anxiety, impulsiveness Openness To Experience - ideas, aesthetic, innovation Agreeableness - compliance, straightforwardness Conscientiousness - order, dutifulness, competence NEO-PI-R, NEO-FFI (Costa & McCrae, 1992)
Arnold: Work Psychology, 4th edition Pearson Education Limited 2005