1. Brief History of Intelligence Testing
Mr. Koch
AP Psychology
Forest Lake High School

2. What is Intelligence?
Mental quality involving skill at information processing, learning from experience, problem solving, and adapting to new or changing environments

3. Alfred Binet
1904 – French govt. appoints to committee to identify, study and provide special ed. programs for children struggling in school
Designed test to look for reasoning, thinking, and problem solving – assumed depended on intelligence
Also assumed abilities increase with age – categorized items by age that typical child could respond correctly
“Mental Age” vs. “Chronological Age”
When equal, considered “regular” intelligence
Not intended to be applied outside of original purpose

4. Lewis Terman “Stanford-Binet” test
Stanford psychologist Terman adapted and revised Binet’s test
Added items for adults and revised scoring procedure
Score of 100 would be considered “average”
Viewed intelligence as fixed, inherited entity (Binet would have disagreed with this idea)
This and tests used for military recruits (Army Alpha) were used to reinforce prejudice against certain people (i.e. – immigrants from south & eastern Europe)
(Mental Age)
(Chronological Age)
X = IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

5. David Wechsler
Late 1930s
Developed new tests to improve on old tests in 3 key ways:
Included both verbal and nonverbal subtests
Success depended less on having formal schooling
Each subtest scored separately
Special versions developed for adults (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – WAIS) and children (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – WISC)

6. Intelligence Tests Today
Updated versions of Stanford-Binet and Wechsler tests are most commonly used intelligence tests today
IQ score no longer determined by dividing mental age by chronological age
Now compare total score to others at age level
Average score = 100
Other scores based on amount of deviation from average
“normal curve”
Score reflects relative standing within population of your age