The Development of Measured Intelligence

The Development of Measured Intelligence

There are many different definitions of intelligence. There is general

agreement that intelligence refers to how effectively we can do

certain things:

* Acquire information

* Effectively think and reason

* Effectively deal with and adapt to our environment

Binet developed a test of general mental ability in the early 1900's,

which he gave to many children. The tasks in the test gradually become

more difficult, and Binet was able to gather the average age at which

children would be able to complete each task in the test.

IQ and intelligence tests

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IQ stands for 'intelligence quotient'. IQ tests enable us to calculate

a childs mental age. For example, if a child passes tasks in the

general mental ability test that average 8 year olds pass, but cant

pass tasks that an average 9 year old can pass, then the child has a

mental age of 8.

If we divide the mental age by the child's chronological age, then

multiply it by 100, the childs IQ can be found. Therefore IQ can be

plotted on a normal distribution, with the score of 100 being the mean

average IQ.

In order for an IQ test to be effective, it has to demonstrate

reliability and validity. If a test is reliable, it will consistently

provide the same results. A problem with checking the reliability of

IQ tests is that practice effects can occur. If you do a test once,

the chances are that you will perform better on a similar test

conducted at a later date because you will have 'learned' how to do

it. If a test is valid, then it measures what it claims to measure.

The way to check...

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things the child learns at school), rather than real life

abilities. For example, people who are dyslexic perform better on

some types of tests than others. This shows that some forms of IQ

testing don't take individual differences into account.

* Familiarity. Some children are familiar with IQ tests, and because

of practice effects, will score better than others that haven't

had a chance to practice.

* Motivation. The better a child is expected to do, the better he is

likely to do. Rosenthal conducted a study where he demonstrated

how children who were expected to do well by their teachers,

showed large IQ gains over a year. This is known as the

self-fulfilling prophecy. The teachers beliefs that the child

would do well were realised because of those beliefs.