Aptitude
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Otheruses4 Template:Mergeto
An aptitude is an innate inborn ability to do a certain kind of work. Aptitudes may be physical or mental. Many of them have been identified and are testable.
Contents |
Specific aptitudes
Commonly recognized aptitudes that are testable include:
- Clerical Checking also called Graphoria
- Inductive Reasoning aptitude also called Inductive Learning Ability also called Differentiation
- Finger Dexterity aptitude
- Number Series aptitude
- Creative Imagination also called Ideaphoria
- Creativity also called Remote Association
- Language Learning aptitude
- Mechanical Comprehension
- Spacial Visualization also called Spatial Reasoning, Space Visualization or Structural Visualization
- Symbolic Reasoning aptitude also called Analytical Reasoning
- Visual Memory
- Visual Pursuit also called Line Tracing
The terminology for the individual aptitudes has not been standardized because each organization that produces aptitude batteries has its own terms.
Aptitude and Intelligence quotient are related, and in some ways opposite, views of human mental ability. Whereas Intelligence Quotient sees intelligence as being a single measurable characteristic affecting all mental ability, aptitude breaks mental ability down into many different characteristics which are more or less independent of each other. In a given person some may be low and others high.
Aptitude batteries
Aptitudes are generally tested in the form of an Aptitude Battery which tests a large number of aptitudes at one time with a series of small tests for each aptitude. Aptitude batteries may lean more toward innate aptitudes or more toward learned skills. Batteries that lean toward learned skills are frequently called Aptitude Tests. An example that leans both ways is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Aptitude batteries that lean toward aptitudes are often useful in selecting a career.