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Aptitude Definitions

 

    1.         “In its original, broad definition aptitude means aptness, inclination, tendency, propensity, predisposition, fitness, or suitability for performance in some situation, usually involving formal or informal learning. Its meaning is akin to the concepts of susceptibility (to treatment or to persuasion) and proneness (as in accident proneness). This definition admits motivational, volitional, affective, social, and psychomotor, as well as cognitive, characteristics of learners as part of the concept of aptitude (although I deal only with the cognitive here). It also carries the strong implication of readiness for some particular learning situation and mutual person/situation compatibility in this condition.5 The notion of cultural compatibility of the first examples of teaching adaptation above fits this view of aptitude nicely.”

 

(From: Aptitudes and symbol systems in adaptive classroom teaching

     Snow, Richard E. Phi Delta Kappan

     Bloomington:  Jan 1997. Vol. 78, Iss. 5;  pg. 354, 7 pgs

URL:http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqd&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&genre=article&rft_dat=xri:pqd:did=000000010901877&svc_dat=xri:pqil:fmt=text&req_dat=xri:pqil:pq_clntid=4683

     

        2.         ”The potential ease of learning particular skills or knowledge. Aptitudes are inferred through the observation of an individual’s current skills or knowledge, generally through ability tests (Carroll, 1993).”

(From: http://vocationalpsychology.com/term_aptitude.htm)

3.  "An aptitude is generally thought of as an ability to acquire a specific type of skill or knowledge"

From:

Book - Assessment in Counseling 3rd edition (2002)

Author - Albert B. Hood and Richard  W. Johnson

Chapter 6 Academic and aptitude and achievement. Page 115

ISBN: 1-55620-187-7

Publisher - American Counseling Association