Intelligence & Psychological Testing Are you a Termanite?

Origins of Intelligence Testing a method of assessing an individual’s mental aptitudes and comparing them to those of others, using numerical scores

Origins of Intelligence Testing Mental Age a measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance child who does as well as the average 8-year-old is said to have a mental age of 8

Origins of Intelligence Testing Stanford-Binet the widely used American revision of Binet’s original intelligence test revised by Terman at Stanford University

Origins of Intelligence Testing Intelligence Quotient (IQ) defined originally the ratio of mental age (ma) to chronological age (ca) multiplied by 100 IQ = ma/ca x 100) on contemporary tests, the average performance for a given age is assigned a score of 100

What is Intelligence? Intelligence ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

What is Intelligence? Factor Analysis General Intelligence (g) statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie one’s total score General Intelligence (g) factor that Spearman and others believed underlies specific mental abilities measured by every task on an intelligence test

Assessing Intelligence Aptitude Test a test designed to predict a person’s future performance aptitude is the capacity to learn Achievement Test a test designed to assess what a person has learned

Assessing Intelligence Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) most widely used intelligence test subtests verbal performance (nonverbal)

Assessing Intelligence: Sample Items from the WAIS From Thorndike and Hagen, 1977 VERBAL General Information Similarities Arithmetic Reasoning Vocabulary Comprehension Digit Span PERFORMANCE Picture Completion Picture Arrangement Block Design Object Assembly Digit-Symbol Substitution

Examples of IQ Test Items

Assessing Intelligence Standardization defining meaningful scores by comparison with the performance of a pretested “standardization group” Normal Curve the symmetrical bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes most scores fall near the average, and fewer and fewer scores lie near the extremes

The Normal Curve

Statistical Norms for IQ

Getting Smarter?

Assessing Intelligence Reliability the extent to which a test yields consistent results assessed by consistency of scores on: two halves of the test alternate forms of the test retesting Validity the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to

Assessing Intelligence Content Validity the extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest driving test that samples driving tasks Criterion behavior (such as college grades) that a test (such as the SAT) is designed to predict the measure used in defining whether the test has predictive validity

Assessing Intelligence Predictive Validity success with which a test predicts the behavior it is designed to predict assessed by computing the correlation between test scores and the criterion behavior also called criterion-related validity

Assessing Intelligence Greater correlation over broad range of body weights 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Little corre- lation within restricted range Football linemen’s success Body weight in pounds 180 250 290 As the range of data under consideration narrows, its predictive power diminishes

The Dynamics of Intelligence Mental Retardation a condition of limited mental ability indicated by an intelligence score below 70 produces difficulty in adapting to the demands of life varies from mild to profound Down Syndrome retardation and associated physical disorders caused by an extra chromosome in one’s genetic makeup

The Dynamics of Intelligence

IQ Issues IQ scores are influenced by: Socioeconomic status: middle class kids tend to do better than lower class kids Language status: children from the dominant culture tend to do better Age: IQ scores on timed tests tend to decline with age Heredity: IQ scores of identical twins raised apart are quite similar

Genetic Influences The most genetically similar people have the most similar scores

Genetic Influences Heritability the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes variability depends on range of populations and environments studied Reaction Range Genetically determined limits on IQ (other than traits)

Genetic Influences

Environmental Influences The Schooling Effect

Variation within group Difference within group Group Differences Group differences and environmental impact Variation within group Difference within group Poor soil Fertile soil Seeds

Group Differences The Mental Rotation Test Standard Responses Which two of the other circles contain a configuration of blocks identical to the one in the circle at the left? Standard Responses

Group Differences Stereotype Threat A self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype

Are There Multiple Intelligences? Savant Syndrome condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill computation drawing

Are There Multiple Intelligences? Social Intelligence the know-how involved in comprehending social situations and managing oneself successfully Emotional Intelligence ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions

Intelligence and Creativity the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas expertise imaginative thinking skills venturesome personality intrinsic motivation creative environment

Intelligence and Creativity Convergent Thinking Narrows down a list of alternatives to “converge” on a single correct answer Divergent Thinking Expands the range of alternatives by generating many possible solutions.

Sternberg’s Triarchic Intelligence Theory

Giftedness and Achievement in Life Renzulli’s 3 ring concept:

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences People vary in their profile of 8 distinct forms of intelligence: