intelligence test data, he aimed to uncover the
structure of intelligence.
Rejecting the "g" Factor: Unlike Spearman,
Thurstone did not support the idea of a single
general factor (g) as the basis of intelligence. He
argued that intelligence was better understood as a
collection of these distinct, specific abilities, each
contributing to an individual's overall cognitive
functioning.
Contributions to Psychometrics: Thurstone's
work had a significant impact on the field of
psychometrics, the study of psychological
measurement. His development of factor analysis
and his focus on multiple factors helped shape
modern intelligence testing and the measurement
of cognitive abilities.
Legacy: Thurstone's theory of primary
mental abilities and his use of factor analysis had a
lasting influence on the study of intelligence. While
many contemporary intelligence tests still measure
a general intelligence factor (g), researchers
recognize the importance of domain-specific
cognitive abilities as well.
Thurstone's work opened the door for a
more nuanced understanding of
intelligence, acknowledging that it is not a
single, unitary entity but a combination of
various cognitive abilities. This perspective
has contributed to the development of
more comprehensive and diverse models of
intelligence, such as Howard Gardner's
theory of multiple intelligences and Robert
Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence,
which emphasize the multiplicity of
cognitive abilities involved in human
intelligence.