Assessing Intelligence Module 32

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Assessing IntelligenceModule 32
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Intelligence

• Assessing Intelligence
• The Origins of Intelligence Testing
• Modern Tests of Mental Abilities
• Principles of Test Construction
• The Dynamics of Intelligence
• Stability or Change?
• Extremes of Intelligence

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Assessing Intelligence
Intelligence testing is a method for assessing an
mental skills and comparing them with others
using numerical scores.
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Alfred Binet (1905)
and Simon started modern intelligence testing in
the Paris school system.
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Lewis Terman
adapted Binets test and named the test the
Stanford-Binet Test. The formula of
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) introduced by William
Stern is
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Aptitude and Achievement Tests
Aptitude tests are intended to predict your
ability to learn a new skill and achievement
tests are intended to reflect what you have
already learned.
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The Wechsler Scales

• Age-related versions provide an overall IQ and
  also yield both verbal and performance IQs.
• (WPPSI-III) Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale
  of Intelligence-Revised. Ages 2 ½ to 7 years, 3
  months
• (WISC-IV) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for
  Children-Revised. Ages 6 to 16 years, 11 months
• (WAIS-III) Wechsler Adult Intelligence
  Scale-Revised
• Ages 16-89

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Principles of Test Construction
For a psychological test to be acceptable it must
fulfill three criteria

1. Standardization
2. Reliability
3. Validity

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Standardization
Standardizing a test involves administering the
test to a representative sample of future test
takers in order to establish a basis for
meaningful comparison.
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Normal Curve
Standardized tests establish a normal
distribution of scores on a tested population a
bell-shaped pattern called the normal curve.
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Flynn Effect
In the past 60 years intelligence scores have
steadily risen by an average of 27 points a
phenomenon known as the Flynn effect.
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Reliability
A test is reliable when it yields consistent
results. To establish reliability researchers
establish different procedures

1. Split-half Reliability Dividing the test into
   two equal halves and assessing how consistent the
   scores are.
2. Reliability using different tests Using
   different forms of the test to measure
   consistency between them.
3. Test-Retest Reliability Using the same test on
   two occasions to measure consistency.

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Validity
Reliability of a test does not insure validity.
Validity of a test refers to what the test is
supposed to measure or predict.

1. Content Validity Refers to the extent a test
   measures a particular behavior or trait.
2. Predictive Validity Refers to the function of a
   test in predicting a particular behavior or trait.

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Stability or Change?
Intelligence scores become stable after about
seven years of age.
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Extremes of Intelligence
The mentally retarded (IQ lt 70) and individuals
with high intelligence (IQ gt 135) are
significantly different.
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Mental Retardation
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High Intelligence
High-scoring people on intelligence
testscontrary to popular beliefstend to be
healthy, well adjusted, and unusually successful
academically.