MODULE 9.2 Evaluation of Intelligence Tests

standardization

the process of evaluating the questions, establishing rules for administering a test, and interpreting the scores.

norms

descriptions of how frequently various scores occur

!!

The standard deviation is 15 for the Wechsler test, and 16 for the Stanford-Binet

Normal distribution

• bell-shaped curve

• The scores for a large population approximate

Down syndrome

• have a variety of physical and medical impairments as a result of having an extra copy of chromosome #21.

• have impairments in speech development, motor skills, memory, and cognition

mentally challenged or mentally disabled

• refers to people more than two standard deviations below average, corresponding to an IQ score of 68 or 70, depending on the test

“gifted”

An IQ score of 130 or more is the “gifted” range

• Gifted children learn rapidly without much help, seek to master knowledge, ask deep questions, and develop new ideas

Flynn effect

• decade by decade, generation by generation, people’s raw scores on IQ tests have gradually increased, and to keep up with this trend, test makers have had to make the tests harder.

• James Flynn

reliability

• the repeatability of its scores.

• test is reliable, it produces nearly the same results every time

test–retest reliability

• the correlation between scores on a first test and a retest

validity

• defined as the degree to which evidence and theory support the interpretations of test scores for the intended purposes

• 5 TYPES

Content (Validity)

The content of a test should match its purposes

Response processes (validity)

• If a test claims to measure a certain skill, then the test-takers should need to use that skill instead of using shortcuts

Internal structure (validity)

If a test claims to measure a single skill, such as working memory, then all the items should correlate with one another

Relation to other variables. (validity)

if a test is valid, the scores predict important kinds of performance. Scores on an interest inventory should predict which jobs or activities someone would enjoy

biased test

overstates or understates the true performance of one or more groups.

Stereotype Threat

people’s perceived risk of performing poorly and thereby supporting an unfavorable stereotype about their group