Intelligence and Human Abilities: Structure, Origins and Applications

Choice Recommended Read Psychological research into human intelligence and abilities presents us with a number of difficult questions: Are human abilities explained by a single core intelligence or by multiple intelligences? How should abilities be assessed? With tests unlike the problems which people normally have to solve, or with practical problems closer to those encountered in life, school and work? Do ability tests predict how a person will behave? If so, can they predict whether a person will succeed at school and at work? Intelligence and Human Abilities critically evaluates research evidence from the past 100 years to consider these and other issues. It shows that, despite the apparent contradictions in this research, the evidence in fact supports one coherent model, a fact which has clear implications for researchers, educators and test-users. This clear and engaging text provides an up-to-date evaluation of what the empirical evidence tells us about the number, nature and origins of human abilities. It will be essential reading for students and practitioners of psychology and education, and also for users of ability tests such as applied psychologists and personnel managers.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. What are abilities? 3. The structure of mental abilities 4. Alternative views of the structure of abilities 5. Social and biological origins of abilities 6. Ability processes 7. Applications 8. Reflections and Conclusions

About the Author :
Colin Cooper was until recently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Queen's University Belfast, UK.

Review :
""This last chapter is important, because Cooper highlights issues that he elected not to discuss in this general introduction to intelligence--e.g., group differences, the Flynn effect (whereby IQ scores are rising), and age-related changes. Those looking for a compact introduction to psychological theory and research concerning intelligence will find it here. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers."--D. S. Dunn, Moravian College, CHOICE, January 2016 "This book gives an accessible, comprehensive overview of human intelligence: what it is, how we test it, its social and biological origins, and its relevance to everyday life. An essential read for the student of individual differences or for people who want to get up to speed on this, at times, controversial topic." - Michelle Luciano, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK "Anyone looking for an up-to-date, comprehensive, and balanced overview of research on human cognitive abilites from a classical perspective would do well to scrutinize Intelligence and Human Abilities. Colin Cooper's volume covers all of the key ropics, including definitions, factor structure, antecedents, processes, and applications, The treatment is concise, lucid, and even-handed." - K.V. Petrides, London Psychometric Laboratory, Personality and Individual Differences "This book needs to be on 'required' reading lists of psychology students and those in related disciplines. It would also be read with profit, albeit perhaps with dissatisfaction, by those who who prefer to dismiss this important field of psychology as pseudo- science. The 'take home message' is that, 'Few theories in psychology have stood the test of time as well as the psychology of human abilities' (p.217). Reader beware: Cooper's book is likely to charm you into knowing far more about the science of intelligence and cognitive ability than you ever thought possible or appropriate!" - Philip Corr, Professor of Psychology at City Unoversity London, The Psychologist "Coopers offers a solid introduction to and overview of human intelligence and looks at the available empirical evidence for various theoretical approaches to understanding individual differences in people's ability both to learn and to think abstractly... Those looking for a compact introduction to psychological theory and research conerning intelligence will find it here."-D. S. Dunn, Moravian College, CHOICE "This book gives an accessible, comprehensive overview of human intelligence: what it is, how we test it, its social and biological origins, and its relevance to everyday life. An essential read for the student of individual differences or for people who want to get up to speed on this, at times, controversial topic." - Michelle Luciano, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK "Intelligence and Human Abilities is an update of the author's 1999 book Intelligence and Abilities. The book provides a fairly thorough and organized review of applicable research regarding the study of abilities, with a particular focus on intelligence." - Michael A. McDaniel, Intelligence