280 CHAPTER 7
The idea of multiple intelligences has great appeal, especially for educators. How-
ever, some argue that there are few scientific studies providing evidence for the concept
of multiple intelligences (Waterhouse, 2006a, 2006b), while others claim that the evidence
does exist (Gardner & Moran, 2006). Some critics propose that such intelligences are no
more than different abilities and that those abilities are not necessarily the same thing as
what is typically meant by intelligence (E. Hunt, 2001).
STERNBERG’S TRIARCHIC THEORY Robert Sternberg (1988a, 1997b) has theorized
that there are three kinds of intelligence. Called the triarchic theory of intelligence
(triarchic means three), this theory includes analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.
Analytical intelligence refers to the ability to break problems down into component
parts, or analysis, for problem solving. This is the type of intelligence that is measured
by intelligence tests and academic achievement tests, or “book smarts” as some peo-
ple like to call it. Creative intelligence is the ability to deal with new and different
concepts and to come up with new ways of solving problems (divergent thinking, in
other words); it also refers to the ability to automatically process certain aspects of
information, which frees up cognitive resources to deal with novelty (Sternberg, 2005).
Practical intelligence is best described as “street smarts,” or the ability to use informa-
tion to get along in life. People with a high degree of practical intelligence know how
to be tactful, how to manipulate situations to their advantage, and how to use inside
information to increase their odds of success.
How might these three types of intelligence be illustrated? All three might come
into play when planning and completing an experiment. For example:- Analytical: Being able to run a statistical analysis on data from the experiment.
- Creative: Being able to design the experiment in the first place.
- Practical: Being able to get funding for the experiment from donors.
Practical intelligence has become a topic of much interest and research. Sternberg
(1996, 1997a, 1997b) has found that practical intelligence predicts success in life but has
a surprisingly low relationship to academic (analytical) intelligence. However, when
practical intelligence is taken into account or used to supplement standardized tests,
studies have found that college, high school, and elementary school programs benefit
in a variety of areas due to the diverse range of individuals being included (Sternberg,
2015).
CATTELL-HORN-CARROLL (CHC) THEORY Another influential theory of intelligence is
actually based on the culmination of work from several theorists, Raymond Cattell,
John Horn, and John Carroll (Flanagan & Dixon, 2013; McGrew, 2009; Schneider &
McGrew, 2012). Interestingly, Cattell was a student of Charles Spearman and Horn was
a student of Cattell (Schneider & McGrew, 2012). Raymond Cattell suggested intelli-
gence was composed of crystalized intelligence, which represents acquired knowledge
and skills, versus fluid intelligence, or problem solving and adaptability in unfamiliar
situations. John Horn expanded on Cattell’s work and added other abilities based on
visual and auditory processing, memory, speed of processing, reaction time, quantita-
tive skills, and reading-writing skills (Flanagan & Dixon, 2013). Based on an extensive
factor analysis of data from more than 460 studies, John Carroll developed a three-tier
hierarchical model of cognitive abilities that fit so well with the Cattell-Horn crystal-
ized and fluid intelligence models that a new theory was suggested, the Cattell-Horn-
Carroll (CHC) Theory of Intelligence (McGrew, 2009).
One component of the CHC framework is general intelligence, or g. It is also
composed of 16 broad abilities including general brain-based factors comprising fluid
reasoning, short-term memory, long-term storage and retrieval, processing speed, reac-
tion and decision speed, and psychomotor speed (see Figure 7. 4 ). Four abilities are
based on Cattell’s description of crystalized intelligence: comprehension-knowledge,practical intelligence
the ability to use information to get
along in life and become successful.
creative intelligence
the ability to deal with new and differ-
ent concepts and to come up with new
ways of solving problems.
analytical intelligence
the ability to break problems down
into component parts, or analysis, for
problem solving.
triarchic theory of intelligence
Sternberg’s theory that there are three
kinds of intelligence: analytical, cre-
ative, and practical.