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Anaptitude is a component of acompetence to do a certain kind ofwork at a certain level. Outstanding aptitude can be considered "talent", or "skill". Aptitude isinbornpotential to perform certain kinds of activities, whetherphysical ormental, and whether developed or undeveloped. Aptitude is often contrasted withskills and abilities, which are developed throughlearning.[1] Themass termability refers to components of competence acquired through a combination of both aptitude and skills.
According to Gladwell (2008)[2] and Colvin (2008),[3] it is often difficult to set apart the influence of talent from the influence of hardtraining in the case of outstanding performances. Howe, Davidson, and Sloboda argue that talents are acquired rather than innate.[4] Talented individuals generally show high levels of competence immediately in only a narrow range of activities,[5] often comprising only a single direction or genre.
Aptitude andIQ are different but related concepts relating to human mental ability. Unlike the original idea of IQ, aptitude often refers to one of the many different characteristics which can be independent of each other, such as aptitude for military flight, air traffic control, or computer programming.[6] This approach measures a variety of separate skills, similar to thetheory of multiple intelligences andCattell–Horn–Carroll theory and many other modern theories of intelligence. In general, aptitude tests are more likely to be designed and used for career and employment decisions, and intelligence tests are more likely to be used for educational and research purposes. However, there is a great deal of overlap between them, and they often measure the same kinds of abilities. For example, aptitude tests such as theArmed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery measure enough aptitudes that they could also serve as a measure of general intelligence.
A single construct such as mental ability is measured with multiple tests. Often, a person's group of test scores will be highly correlated with each other, which makes a single measure useful in many cases. For example, theU.S. Department of Labor'sGeneral Learning Ability is determined by combining Verbal, Numerical and Spatial aptitude scores. However, many individuals have skills that are much higher or lower than their overall mental ability level. Aptitude subtests are used intra-individually to determine which tasks that individual is more skilled at performing. This information can be useful for determining which job roles are the best fits for employees or applicants. Often, before more rigorous aptitude tests are used, individuals are screened for a basic level of aptitude through a previously-completed process, such asSAT scores,GRE scores,GATE scores, degrees, or other certifications.
Examples of aptitude tests include;[7]
Tests that assess learned skills or knowledge are frequently calledachievement tests. However, certain tests can assess both types of constructs. An example that leans both ways is theArmed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which is given to recruits entering the armed forces of theUnited States. Another is the SAT, which is designed as a test of aptitude forcollege in the United States, but has achievement elements. For example, it tests mathematical reasoning, which depends both on mathematical ability and education received inmathematics.
Aptitude tests can typically be grouped according to the type of cognitive ability they measure, whether that befluid or crystallized intelligence.[8][9][10]
Media related toAptitude at Wikimedia Commons
