Intelligence Test

Intelligence

A mental ability consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, & use knowledge to adapt to new situations.

G factor

General intelligence, if you're good at one mental task (like math) you're probably good at other mental tasks (like spatial reasoning, verbal intelligence, etc), classic IQ test measures this.

Multiple intelligences (Howard Gardner)

There are 8 intelligences used to support learning styles.

Problems with Gardner

No valid studies which assessed whether there are multiple intelligences, are there multiple intelligences or they just skills?

Learning Styles

Pseudopsychology, learning styles are just preferences, you learning info one vs another will have no bearing on your performance on a test.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

A theory that divides intelligence into three types: analytical, creative, and practical.

IQ graph

2 extremes: cognitive impairment (IQ 70) & high intelligence (IQ 135), mean is 100 and standard deviation is 15.

How is IQ evaluated

IQ= mental age/chronological age *100.

Mental age

Mental age is the intellectual age which the test taker is functioning based on standard cognitive benchmarks.

IQ and groups

IQ tends to vary more within a group than between groups, IQ scores of male and female is typically similar with only small difference between 2 groups.

Assessment Principles

All psychological assessments should adhere to sound psychometric principles to be considered useful: standardization, validity, reliability.

Standardization

When creators of the test use consistent procedures & environment so that a comparison can be made.

Construct Validity

Does the test measure the concept or construct that it set out to measure? (a construct is an abstract idea that is not observable or tangible such as intelligence, love, anxiety, etc).

Predictive Validity

The extent to which an assessment accurately predicts future performance or outcomes, e.g., high SAT score typically predicts better success in college.

Reliability

When results can be replicated.

Test re-test reliability

Shows whether a test produces similar results when repeated with the same individuals over time.

Split-half reliability

One group of test takers. All questions randomly divided into 2 groups, and then the questions from both groups are correlated (based on the # of correct answers) to see if they are reliable, ex: IQ test

Aptitude test

Measures ability or potential

Achievement test

Measure what you have learned

Stereotype threat

If a member of a group believes that their group tends to do poorly on an assessment, this knowledge may cause anxiety & the person may fulfill the poor expectation by scoring poorly on the assessment

Stereotype lift

An increase in groups performance due to not being part of a stereotype, ex men might perform better on math tests if they are primed on the stereotype that men are better than women at math

Flynn Effect

Phenomenon in which a marked increase in intelligence test scores averages overtime. Steadily increased since 1930, so restandardization every few years

Mindsets

People's beliefs about whether intelligence is fixed from birth or malleable due to experience can affect academic achievement

Growth mindset

The belief that a person's intelligence & abilities can grow & improve through dedication and hard work

Fixed mindset

The view that intelligence & talents are unchangeable even with effort

Similarities and difference between groups

Racial groups differ in intelligence scores, high-scoring people and groups are more likely to attain higher levels of education and income

Environmental effects for groups

Differences in intelligence among groups are largely result of environmental factor, not genetic

Bias in testing

Environmental effect, ex using terms like cups and saucers which favor suburban kids

Support for environmental effect for groups

Difference groups can experience periods of remarkable achievement, todays better-prepared populations would outperform population of the 1930s on intelligence tests

Sociocultural Bias

Involve societal norms, values, or prejudices that influence interpretations of IQ scores. These biases often reflect disparities in access to education, socioeconomic status, or cultural expectations.

Cultural Bias in IQ Testing

IQ tests are often standardized based on dominant cultural or linguistic norms and misinterpretation of scores can lead to stereotypes

Aptitude test bias

Not bias as the predictive validity is roughly same regardless of demographics

Intelligence score influences

Poverty, educational inequities, & discrimination can negatively influence intelligence scores of individuals and societal groups

Intelligence scores irl

Scores have been used to limit access to jobs, military ranks, educational institutions, and immigration

Adoption studies

Adopted children show a small correlation in verbal ability to their adopted parents

Genetics vs environment

Genetics has a larger influence on intelligence than environment, however environment does play a role

Environmental factors for adoptive studies

Adoption into financially secure homes enhances intelligence scores, & adoption of neglected children enhances their score

Early intervention Effects

Early neglect from caregivers leads children to develop a lack of personal control over the environment, and it impoverishes their intelligence

Schooling Effect

More schooling correlated with higher intelligence scores