Mike I am not sure I get the point about g being an artifact of factor analysis. I realize we can name factors anything we wish. The loadings correlate the sub-tests with the hypothetical/latent variable that we call factor I, II etc .... I also know that there are different methods of factor analysis, and we can get different results, but if guided by theory/common sense and the result is a construct that succinctly summarizes a broad array of empirical findings, then I do not see the artifact.
I do know that a factor will emerge when it predicts differences . So (loosely stealing an example from Cronbach/ the pencil is my example) ... a sub-test of vocabulary and a sub-test of pencil sharpening ability will not see a common factor emerge with homogeneous Ss, even though there is a skill common to both - willingness to sit and follow directions. But if we had a more heterogeneous sample of people from very different cultures, a common factor of "willingness" would emerge to predict differences. In the later example, the "willingness" would be a useful construct, label it what you will. As I think about the neurological underpinnings (jumping from one issue to another) it may be the case that there are numerous brain functions common to all tasks, or maybe only some tasks. Like factor analysis, do they predict differences in the population we get our samples from? And - jumping again - I suspect Mike and I are in a small group who celebrate Greek Passover/Easter given his expertise in that area (add our list to the cross-cultural dudes on tips. UNLESS he is simply an expert in very diverse fields - OMG! is that g????). Whatever the case, have a fruitful equinox holiday season! ========================== John W. Kulig, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Coordinator, Psychology Honors Plymouth State University Plymouth NH 03264 ========================== ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Palij" <m...@nyu.edu> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu> Cc: "Michael Palij" <m...@nyu.edu> Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 12:16:17 PM Subject: RE: [tips] How Intelligent is IQ On Wed, 09 Apr 2014 07:50:49 -0700, Jim Clark wrote: >Hi > >I'm surprised to see the IQ bashing based on a perhaps simplistic >interpretation of some brain research showing that two different >areas of the brain light up in 16 subjects performing various cognitive >tasks. [snip] I think you miss the point: it is the use of IQ/intelligence/"g" as theoretical concepts for cognitive or brain processing that is being contested. There are alternative theoretical frameworks that can be used but some people feel compelled to use IQ/intelligence/"g". One might prefer a theory that claims that the Flying Spaghetti Monster fills a person's heads with blue fairies that when active give off energy that is detected by neuroimaging techniques (but I'll leave the debunking of neuroscience results to Tips resident neuroscience debunker Scott Lilienfeld ;-). Hence, every thought you have is the result of a busy blue fairy. Now try to falsify that claim. But do so after you show the evidence for virtual particles. ;-) See the following article in Scientific American but also read the comments: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-virtual-particles-rea/ Then take a look at the Physics FAQ on virtual particles: http://www.mat.univie.ac.at/~neum/physfaq/topics/virtual Oh, and I'm glad that no one has shown that the claim that "g" is an artifact of factor analysis is false. ;-) >Somewhat related, there is an interesting interview with Flynn in >the latest Skeptic magazine. Interesting interview but it leaves one wondering why anybody let the Irish immigrate to their country. ;-) -Mike Palij New York University m...@nyu.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: ku...@mail.plymouth.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13338.f659d005276678c0696b7f6beda66454&n=T&l=tips&o=36005 or send a blank email to leave-36005-13338.f659d005276678c0696b7f6beda66...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=36006 or send a blank email to leave-36006-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
