College Psychology Chapter 9 Concepts

Psychological Tests

Standardized tools used to measure behavior, mental processes, or abilities

Test Norms

Standardized data representing the average performance of a specific, representative group on a test

Mental Ability Tests

Tests designed to measure cognitive functioning (like thinking, reasoning, and problem solving)

Intelligence Tests

Measure overall mental ability or general intelligence (often called “g”)

Aptitude Tests

Predict a person’s future performance or ability to learn a skill (EX: SAT)

Achievement Tests

Measures what a person has already learned (Unit Tests, Spelling Bee)

Personality Tests

Assess traits, emotions, and behavior patterns (Ex: Introversion, extroversion)

Standardization

Giving a test to many people under the same conditions to establish norms

Percentile Score

Indicates the percentage of people you scored higher than (Ex: 95th percentile = better than 85%)

Reliability

Consistency of a test’s results over time; Assess test-retest reliability (hoping for strong positive correlation)

Validity

Whether a test actually measures what it claims to measure

Criterion-related Validity

How well a test predicts outcomes (SAT predicting college success)

Content Validity

Whether a test covers all parts of the concept it’s supposed to measure

Sir Francis Galton (Genetics & Intelligence)

Believed intelligence was inherited (genetic); studied individual differences

Binet & Simon

Developed first intellignece test to identify students needing extra help

Binet-Simon Scale

(Mental age/chronological age) x 100 = Intelligence quotient

David Wechsler

Originally responsible for developing IQ tests for all ages with both verbal and performance items and with subtest score

Distribution (Bell Curve)

Symmetrical curve showing most people score near average

Intellectual Disability

Significantly below average IQ (lower than 70)

Giftedness

Above-average intelligence (IQ 130+)

Eminence (Creativity, intelligence, & motivation)

Exceptional achievement due to intelligence and motivation

Nature and Intelligence

The idea that intelligence is influenced by genetic (biological factors). Traits like IQ are partly inherited from your parents

IQ Scores and twins/siblings

Identical twins have more similar IQs than fraternal twins or siblings suggest genetic influence

Genetics and IQ

Twin and adoption studies show intelligence is partly inherited

Heritability Ratio

Estimate of how much variation in intelligence is due to genetics in a population

The Flynn Effect

IQ scores have increased over time due to better education, nutrition, etc

Deprivation and Enrichment: Impact on IQ

Deprivation (lack of stimulation, lower IQ), Enrichment (stimulating environment, higher IQ)

Reaction Range

Genetic limit on IQ, but environment determines where within that range you fall

Social Class & intelligence

Higher socioeconomic status often linked to higher IQ due to access to resource

Sternberg: Analytical Creative and Practical intelligence

Analytical, Creative, Practical

Howard Garnder Miltiple intelligence

Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Spatial, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalist

Implicit Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decision