Which theorist originally proposed a model of seven primary mental abilities rather than one solitary factor and demonstrated that the seven common factors collectively accounted for most of the individual differences?

• A. Spearman
• B. Thurstone
• C. Guilford
• D. Vernon

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that intelligence can be understood as multiple distinct abilities rather than a single overall factor. Thurstone conducted extensive factor analysis on a large battery of cognitive tests and identified seven relatively independent mental abilities that together explain most of the differences among people in cognitive performance: verbal comprehension, word fluency, number facility, spatial visualization, associative memory, perceptual speed, and reasoning. He showed that these seven factors, taken together, account for a large share of variance in test scores, supporting a multi-faceted view of intelligence rather than a sole general factor. This stands in contrast to Spearman’s single g concept and is a hallmark of Thurstone’s contribution to the field.