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Beliefs about the meaning and measurement of intelligence: a cross‐cultural comparison of American, British and Malaysian undergraduates
Author(s) -
Swami Viren,
Furnham Adrian,
Maakip Ismail,
Ahmad Mohd Sharani,
Nawi Nurul Hudani Mohd,
Voo Peter S. K.,
Christopher Andrew N.,
Garwood Jeanette
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.1356
Subject(s) - psychology , exploratory factor analysis , meaning (existential) , cross cultural , social psychology , cultural intelligence , reliability (semiconductor) , intelligence quotient , theory of multiple intelligences , psychometrics , developmental psychology , cognition , anthropology , sociology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , psychotherapist
Abstract This study examined lay beliefs about intelligence cross‐culturally using a questionnaire based on an expert summary of what is known about intelligence. Two hundred and thirty five university undergraduates in Malaysia, 347 undergraduates in Britain and 137 undergraduates in the US rated for agreement 30 items about the nature, measurement, between‐group differences and practical importance of intelligence. An exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors: (1) stability, reliability and validity of intelligence tests ; (2) practical importance of intelligence and (3) source and stability of within‐group intelligence . While the overall factor structure did not vary a great deal between groups, there were significant cross‐cultural differences on the mean scores for Factors 1–3. Explanations for cross‐cultural differences in implicit theories of intelligences are considered, and limitations of the study discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.