1. Melissa Stern PSY 4930 October 3, 2006
Intelligence Testing
Melissa Stern
PSY 4930
October 3, 2006

2. What is Intelligence? A loaded question . . .
Ability to modify one’s behavior to meet demands of the situation
Abstract reasoning (using symbols or mental representations)
Capacity to acquire knowledge
Problem solving ability

3. Definition of Intelligence
Common to many definitions of intelligence
Knowledge-based thinking
Apprehension
Adaptive purposeful striving
Fluid analytic reasoning
Mental playfulness
Idiosyncratic learning

4. Theories of Intelligence
Terman coined the term “Intelligence Quotient” (IQ) in 1916
Mental age/Chronological age
Spearman’s 2 Factor Theory (1927)
Intelligence =
General factors (g) — “mental energy”
E.g., abstract reasoning, problem solving
Specific factors (s) — less complex tasks
E.g., motor speed, attention, v-m coordination, memory
Although originally a 2 factor theory, g is the only factor that accounts for correlations among intellectual abilities

5. Theories of Intelligence
Thurstone’s Multidimensional Theory (1938)
Eight primary mental factors
Verbal, perceptual speed, inductive reasoning, number, rote memory, deductive reasoning, word fluency, space or visualization)
He eventually found that these factors correlated and later postulated a second-order factor similar to “g”

6. Multiple Intelligences?
MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE
Is it a type of an intelligence?
Or is it just special talents?
Discuss!

7. Theories of Intelligence
Cattell & Horn’s Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence (1966)
Fluid intelligence=one’s inborn abilities largely determined by genetics and biology
Fluid intelligence develops through childhood and adolescents
Examples: number/letter series, matrices
Crystallized Intelligence=acquired skills and knowledge
Influenced by environment and culture
Continues to develop over the lifespan
Examples: vocabulary, general information
Some tasks measure both:
Arithmetic reasoning

8. Theories of Intelligence
Piaget’s Developmental Theory
Hierarchical model with four major periods of cognitive development
Sensorimotor period
Preoperational period
Concrete operations period
Formal operations period
Correlations have been found between Piagetian tasks and psychometric scales of intelligence

9. A Modern View of Intelligence
Intelligence is an integrated construct including:
Biological—dependent on genetics, brain structure, physiological functioning of brain
Cognitive—metacognition and ordinary cognition
Motivational—magnitude, direction, and disposition of individual
Behavioral—behavior in academic, social, and adaptive domains
Genetically-determined intelligence is always modified by experience

10. Environmental Influences on IQ
Factors that enhance IQ:
Stimulating environment
Good medical care/nutrition
Parental involvement in learning
Rich language environment
Factors that negatively impact IQ:
Persistent poverty
Perinatal complications, inadequate stimulation in environment, lead exposure
Large family size
Nutrition during gestation and early childhood

11. Heredity and IQ
“Heredity may limit a child’s potential, but environment permits their potential to be actualized” (Sattler, 2001, p. 180)
We inherit genes, not an actual IQ
Genetics is only 1 factor affecting IQ (familial, educational, nonfamilial factors)
IQ can change, but it is difficult
Does seem to go up on average about 4 points between childhood and adolescence (develop problem-solving strategies over time)

12. The Bell Curve (1994)
Controversial book on the social ramifications of IQ stratification
The “Cognitive Elite” associate with other elite
Physical separation from others
Make more money
Live in different neighborhoods

13. The Bell Curve: Social Problems and IQ
Poverty -  IQ predicts poverty, even more than SES in which people grow up
Schooling -  IQ increases risk of dropping out of school and decreases chances of college degree
Unemployment, Idleness and Injury -  IQ is associated with unemployment, frequent injury, or idleness (removing oneself from the workforce) 
Family -  IQ is related to high rates of divorce, lower rates of marriage, and higher rates of illegitimate births 

14. The Bell Curve: Social Problems & IQ
Welfare Dependency -  IQ increases the chances of chronic welfare dependency 
Parenting -  IQ of mothers correlates with low birth weight babies, poor child motor skills and social development, and children’s behavioral problems 
Crime -  IQ increases the risk of criminal behavior
Civility and Citizenship – those with  IQ vote least often

15. The Bell Curve: Gender, Ethnicity & IQ
Few gender differences were found
Males higher on spatial and quantitative
Females higher on verbal ability
East Asians score highest, then European Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans
APA task force on IQ
IQ can predict individual differences, but not necessarily group differences
Socioeconomic influences may play a role
Cultural differences may affect education
emphasis on spirituality, harmony, movement, verve, affect, expressive individualism, communalism, etc.

16. IQ Tests and Culture Culturally Biased Culturally loaded
Proponents of this view feel IQ tests are biased against ethnic minorities and don’t take their sociocultural factors into account
Culturally loaded
Proponents of this view feel IQ tests are reflective of the knowledge and skills of the dominant society (those who created the test)

17. Pros and Cons of IQ Testing
Reveals unknown talent
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Standardized method of comparing children
Measures only processes needed for successful test performance
Excellent predictors of academic performance
Biased against ethnic minorities
Valuable for children with disabilities
Poor predictors of real-life situations
Predicts success in a wide variety of endeavors
Unconventional responses are penalized

18. Common IQ Misperceptions
IQ is innate
IQ never changes
IQ tests provide perfectly reliable scores
All IQ tests measure the same thing
IQ test scores are interchangeable

19. IQ tests vs. Achievement tests
IQ tests measure broader abilities
IQ tests are more predictive of future performance
Achievement tests (reading, math, etc.) are heavily dependent on formal learning at home or school
Achievement test scores change more readily
Achievement tests assess mastery of factual information; IQ tests assess ability to apply information in new ways

20. Common Intelligence Tests
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
Originally developed in 1916
Currently in the 4th edition
Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC)
For children 6-16 years
Currently in the 4th edition (2003)
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)
For children 3 years to 7 years, 3 months
Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID)
For children aged 1 to 42 months
Cognitive, Motor, and Behavioral scales

21. IQ Test example: WISC-IV
15 subtests (some of them are optional)
Administration time varies from 1-3 hours
Must be trained in order to administer – complicated rules
Provides
Full Scale IQ--Global estimate of child’s general intellectual capacity/potential/level of cognitive ability and the relative standing compared to the normative population
Verbal Comprehension Index –verbal reasoning skills
Perceptual Reasoning Index – nonverbal reasoning skills
Working Memory –ability to attend to and hold information in memory to formulate responses
Processing Speed – speed of processing information
Uses the deviation IQ (mean = 100, SD = 15)

22. WISC-IV Subtests Block Design Similarities Digit Span Picture Concepts
Coding
Vocabulary
Letter-Number Sequencing
Matrix Reasoning
Comprehension
Symbol Search
(Picture Completion)
(Cancellation)
(Information)
(Arithmetic)
(Word Reasoning)

23. Matrix Reasoning Example

24. WISC-III Subtests VCI Similarities Vocabulary Comprehension
Information*
Word Reasoning*
PRI
Block Design
Picture Concepts
Matrix Reasoning
Picture Completion*
WMI
Digit Span
Letter-Number Sequencing
Arithmetic*
PSI
Coding
Symbol Search
Cancellation*

25. IQ Testing Considerations
Examiner variability (i.e., giving extra help, errors in administration, incorrect scoring, etc.)
Situational variability (i.e., on/off medications, Ritalin, fatigue, illness, hunger, etc.)
Individual subtest scores are not as reliable as the FSIQ and Indices
Qualitative observations are also important

26. Types of IQ Ratio IQ First type of IQ Stern (1938) IQ = MA/CA x 100
Same IQ has different meanings at different ages
Not used as often now
Deviation IQ
A type of standard score
Mean = 100, SD = 15/16
Compares IQ to same age peers
Normal distribution
WISC uses this