Information processing: Sternburg's triarchic theory

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Psychology unit 3 intelligence
Information processing-Sternberg's Triarchic theory
States that there are 3 types of intelligence that are each influenced by other
factors. Analytical intelligence which has 3 different components; meta
components which co-ordinate the other components and analyse a problem and
decide on the best solution; performance components which are the processes
involved in solving various problems; knowledge and acquisition which separate
useful from misleading information. Creativity involves using your knowledge and
experience to invent a solution to a problem. Problems can be solved automatically
if that problem has been encountered before or if it is new or novel then a
creative response is needed. Finally, practical intelligence is when a person
changes their behaviour (adapting), changes their environment (shaping) or chooses
the best environment for their talents (selecting).
Study of Brazilian street children showed they were good at everyday
maths they needed for gambling or calculating small change despite having
poor academic maths at school. This supports the theory as academic
performance isn't related to practical intelligence on the street. Therefore
they are different intelligences and aren't linked.
Kenyan street children have a good knowledge of natural medical treatments
and no correlation was found between this knowledge and academic ability.
This supports the theory as it shows analytical and practical intelligence
aren't linked
Sternburg found older people solve problems differently to younger
people. This is due to the differential use of the meta components which
supports the idea that meta and performance components exist and change
with age.
Carroll shows that tasks require a mix of intelligences and found a
correlation between the different scores. This suggests that not everyone
thinks these intelligences are separate, but creativity, analytical and
practical intelligence may be linked through a single underlying factor.
Found that teaching by these 3 intelligences improved academic
performance through strategies such as personal learning and thinking skills
and practical intelligence. Therefore the theory has useful applications
Less reductionist than other psychometric explanations as it suggests 3
components interact with each other to form different types of
intelligences seen. Therefore we get a more detailed understanding of what
causes intelligence than in other theories.


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