INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence Tests

What makes a good intelligence test?

Do Intelligence Tests actually measure intelligence?

What is Intelligence?

Our definition: Discovering things Inventing things Contributing to science Contributing to the economy Peace activists Streetsmart

What is Intelligence?

No agreed upon definition by psychologists

Why? Because intelligence can not be directly observed.

A broad definition of intelligence states that intelligence is a term that refers to mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and adapting effectively to one’s environment

What is Intelligence?

“The application of cognitive skills and knowledge to solve problems and obtain ends that are valued by an individual or culture while being able to adapt to and perform better in the environment” (Gregory, 2008)

What is Intelligence?

Is it fair to focus a definition of intelligence on cognitive skills alone though? Does emotion play a role in intelligence?

So if we cannot define intelligence how do we know it exists?

It is generally accepted that intelligence is a thing that some people have and others do not. It is also generally accepted that intelligence does involve cognitive abilities (reasoning, learning, memory, problem solving).

Intelligence: 4 major features

The ability to learn from experience The ability to obtain new knowledge The ability to solve problems The ability to adapt to the environment.

Hopefully by now you have a clearer idea of what intelligence is. Would you change your order of famous people based on this knowledge?

Intelligence Tests

Intelligence tests were developed before the theories of intelligence

So are they actually measuring modern definitions of intelligence?

Are they catering to cultural differences? It is well accepted that what is considered intelligent in one culture may not be considered intelligent in another.

Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale

The first standardised intelligence test Developed in Paris by Alfred Binet and Ted Simon in

1905 Binet recognised that psychologists attempts to

measure intelligence as a physical entity were inadequate (brain size, reactivity, etc)

He developed the test for children to help identify normal children from those requiring special help with schooling

He believed intelligence was expressed as mental abilities and the items on his test asked children to name object, copy shapes, count , memorise things and recall common knowledge.

Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale

After a revision in 1908 the Binet-Simon intelligence scale became popular and widely used. It formed the basis of many of today's popular intelligence tests.

The revision included an outline of what a child at a certain age should be able to answer. This lead to the idea of a mental age. If a seven year old could only answer the questions equivalent to a 5 year old their mental age would be 5 and they were behind in their mental development.

Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale

Unfortunately those who scored poorly were labelled as idiots (lowest scores), imbeciles, and morons (highest of the low scores).

The Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

The Binet-Simon intelligence scale scored each participant as a single number- their mental age.

Stern and Terman (1900’s) developed the intelligence quotient :

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) = mental age (MA) x100

chronological age (CA)

E.g. If you are 16 and you complete the test at the same level an 18 would, your IQ would be 18/16 x

100 = 112.5

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Developed in 1916 by Lewis Terman Provides participants with an IQ score and

not just their mental age Applicable to adults Specifically designed for the US Modifications of the original still in

extensive use today. Has since been revised 5 times. The most

current version is the SB5 (2003).

Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale

Most widely used today Developed by David Wechsler Some items similar to the Stanford-Binet Focuses, as Binet did, on cognitive

abilities Made his test more applicable to adults

than Stanford-Binet Participant will have three scores: verbal

score, performance score and overall score (IQ)

Test has sub-scales that measure different abilities

Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale

WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale for 16 up), WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children for 5 – 15 year olds), WPPSI (Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence 2 – 7)

See page 398 – 399 for the sub scales and examples of the questions asked.

Introduced the deviation quotient (not dependent on age).

The Deviation Quotient (DQ)

Replaced the IQ (although when the term IQ is used today it mostly refers to a DQ)

A participant’s score is based on their performance relative to an average score. This average is usually 100. If you score above 100, you are above average. If you score below 100, you are below average.

There is however a standard deviation of 15. This means that scores from 85 – 115 are still considered in the average range.

Based on the assumption that intelligence is constant in adulthood.

DQ/IQ

How did you go with your online intelligence tests? They would have provided you with an IQ score (as a DQ). You do not need to tell anyone your scores.

Were your scores the same for all of the tests?

Did you tire if you did the tests all at the one time?

Were you distracted by your environment?

Did the tests ask different types of questions?

DQ/IQ

It appears that the following factors will affect an IQ or DQ score, not just the “intelligence” of the participant The type of test The mood of the participant The time of day The external environment- distracts etc Motivation

The Bell Curve

Strength and Weaknesses of Intelligence Testing

Advantages: Stanford-Binet and Wechsler both

rigorously tested and standardised (lots of people completed the test to calculate the median)

Both tests have been proven to be valid (actually test what they are designed to test) and reliable (when a person repeats the test, they obtain the same score). Psychometrics refers to intelligence testing that is scientifically based and thus valid and reliable.

Strength and Weaknesses of Intelligence Testing

Disadvantages: It is easy to misinterpret the results- does a

single number actually represent intelligence? Therefore scores are not reported on many occasions.

IQ scores have led to people being labelled Tests are biased towards western cultures Focus on intelligence testing has taken focus

away from the concept of intelligence Focus on cognitive abilities have meant that

other possible contributors to intelligence have been overlooked

Theories of Intelligence

We will be reviewing only a small selection of intelligence theories.

We will review two classic theories: CHC Stenberg’s Triarchic Theory

And two contemporary theories Gardener’s theory of multiple intelligences Salovey and Mayer’s emotional intelligence