The Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of Studying Students’ Intellectual Development

This article analyzes the theoretical and methodological foundations of studying students’ intellectual development. The content of major psychological concepts related to the phenomenon of intelligence, including Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory, Lev Vygotsky’s cultural-historical approach, and the multifactor models of Robert J. Sternberg and Howard Gardner, is revealed. In addition, methodological approaches used in studying students’ intelligence — psychometric, experimental, and qualitative analysis methods — are comparatively analyzed. The study substantiates the necessity of an integrated methodological system that serves to accurately assess intellectual potential in the context of modern education.