Intelligence and Testing 5-7% of the AP Test
Everybody is a genius…but if you judged a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its entire life believing it is stupid” – Albert Einstein
Psychological Testing Used to assess abilities, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. The Plan, The Explore, SAT, ACT, ASVAP, MCAT, GRE, Wonderlic, etc. They can be very helpful if used correctly.
4 features of a USEFUL test 1. Standardization 2. Reliability 3. Validity 4. Norms
Standardization Everyone taking the test does it exactly the same. Time limit, questions, directions, etc. Every AP Psych student will take the test on May 2 nd in the after noon. 100 MC questions – 70 minutes
Reliability Test scores are the same every time you take it. What did you get on the ACT if you took it multiple times? If you took an IQ test today and one in 10 years it should be the same. If my tests are Reliable what you have been getting in class on tests should relate to the score you get on the AP test.
Types of Reliability Test-retest Reliability Alternate form – “But test B is tougher” Split half Correlation Coefficients – the closer the CC is to +1 the more reliable it is. If being used should be above.9
Validity Does the test show what it is supposed to show? When you take the AP test on May 2 nd and you do well, does that mean you would do well in Psych 101? If so than the AP test is Valid.
Types of Validity Content Validity – Does the AP test cover Psych stuff? Criterion-Related Validity- If you take the ACT and do well you should so equally well on the SAT. Construct validity – (A construct is a vague hard to test concept) So what does happy mean? How do you measure it? Predictive validity – Future performance
Norms What is the Average? Outliers? Bell Curve and Standard Deviation
Types of Test IQ Aptitude Achievement
Measuring Intelligence Galton Unsuccessful Bell curve should apply to psychological characteristics
Stanford-Binet Binet – first to develop a test to classify children Intelligence increases with age so had different questions for different age groups. Test yields you Mental Age (MA) Compare your MA to your Chronological Age
Intelligence Quotient Mental Age Chronological Age 100 IQ Let’s Practice 1.MA 6, CA 6 = ? 2.MA 8, CA 6 = ? 3.MA 6, CA 8 = ?
Wechsler Scales (WAIS) IQ test used now No MA but keeps IQ Includes Subtests – verbal, nonverbal, Uses NORMS to set scores
Spearman G factor – general intelligence Good at everything using factor analysis Jack Bauer is good at torturing, bomb defusing, shooting, figuring out evil plots and saving the country (and he is good looking). Is there anything he cannot do?
Thurston Modern SAT No g factor – different intelligences
Sternberg – Triarchic
Problems with IQ tests Culturally Bias – Robert Williams IQ test – how did you do? Motivation Self-fulfilling prophecy It has been estimated it takes 10 years to become an expert in any field Penny's Intelligence Test
Gardner Multiple Intelligences
Emotional Intelligence Self- Awareness Mood Management Self-Motivation Impulse Control People Skills Marshmallow Study
Flynn Effect HOWEVER The bell curve does not change, test makers adjust cut scores Idiocracy
Savant Syndrome Prodigies Kim Peek – Inspiration for Rain Man (Although Kim Peek does not have autism)
Mental Retardation Mild 50 – 70 Moderate 35 – 49 Severe 20 – 34 Profound Below 20
Causes Organic – (genetic) Down Syndrome Phenylketonuria (PKU) Other (preventable) Prenatal, nutrition, neglect, schooling Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Brain traumas – accidents, lack of oxygen, drugs
Mrs. Mackson’s soap box Death Penalty
Heredity Twin Studies Heritability Environmental Reaction Range