General Intelligence Essay

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General intelligence includes processing and solving complex problems using scholastic skills and aptitude which is more about “brain” (Spearman, 1904). While, practical intelligence is more about practical intelligence in daily life that involves socializing, communicating (verbal) and solving concrete problems in day-to-day basis (Sternberg, 1997).
In previous studies by Furnham it had been found that there were sex-role stereotypes in terms of estimated IQ where generally male is considered more intelligent than females.
Based on these previous researches, several hypotheses are decided: (1) Males would have higher self-estimate general IQ than females, (2) Males would have higher self-estimate practical IQ than females, (3) Both male and female participants would have lower general IQ self-estimates than their fathers, (4) Both male and female participants would have lower practical IQ self-estimates than their fathers, (5) Both male and female participants would rate their fathers with higher general IQ than their mothers, (6) Both male and female participants would rate their fathers with higher practical IQ than their mothers.

Participants in this study are 66 male and 66 female age 18-25 years old, pursuing undergraduate degree in Hong Kong universities. The nationality and majors are not restricted. They and parents have never taken any formal intelligence test before.
A questionnaire was made for data collection which contains 7 questions. The questions asked are about gender (male or female), estimation of participants’ own general and practical IQ, estimation of mother’s general and practical IQ, and estimation of father’s general and practical IQ.
33 researchers each separately recruited 4 indiv...

... middle of paper ...

...and more experienced to solve problems. Hypothesis (4) is accepted.
At Table 7 and Table 8, there are significant differences in both gender’s estimation between fathers and mothers’ general IQ. Fathers are estimated to have higher general IQ since they’re usually the head figure of family and working to support the family. Hypothesis (5) proven.
Table 9 and Table 10 shows opposite results. Male participants’ estimation of fathers and mothers IQ has significant difference while female participants’ estimation has no significant difference which may suggests that women nowadays don't underestimate themselves compared to men although men might still think that women are weaker. Ergo, hypothesis (6) is rejected.
To sum it all, in the current modern world there is less sex-role stereotype found since equality is valued more compared to the last decade.

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