Research on intelligence and learning: How to unite estranged siblings

In its early days, intelligence research was closely intertwined with school learning. The need for intelligence testing arose as a result of compulsory schooling, which raised concerns about selective placement. However, despite common roots, intelligence research and educational psychology have somehow diverged in recent decades. Studies of instructional interventions often view individual differences as statistical noise, thereby marginalizing the role of intelligence in learning outcomes. Intelligence researchers, on the other hand, tend to overlook the ability of all individuals to learn, and they often ignore the importance of effective learning environments for intelligence to develop and to be invested in knowledge and expertise. This paper presents findings on the impact of schooling on the development of human intelligence as well as findings on the impact of intelligence on the use of learning opportunities. Research questions that require both perspectives are discussed at the end.