Theme-Park Psychology: A Case Study Regarding Human Intelligence and Its Implications for Education

Authors: Sternberg R.J.¹; Grigorenko E.L.²

Source: Educational Psychology Review, Volume 12, Number 2, June 2000 , pp. 247-268(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

We introduce in this article the construct of theme-park psychology, which we define as psychological theory and research drawn only from limited and unrepresentative samples of participants, tasks, and situational contexts within the context of worldwide populations. Results obtained from limited populations, tasks, and situational contexts often are inappropriately generalized and then used as a basis for educational policy. In theme-park psychology, easy-to-study populations, tasks, and situational contexts repeatedly may show the same patterns in data, leading to tantalizing generalizations that are nevertheless wrong. We describe studies by ourselves and by others with respect to human intelligence that illustrate our views and that cast doubt on traditional notions.

Keywords: intelligence; education; triarchic theory; theme-park psychology; generalization

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 2: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Publication date: 2000-06-01