Unit 5

Intelligence Tests

Intelligence tests have been classified into, from the point of administration, different angles → individual and group tests.

The first intelligence test was Binet-Simon intelligence scale.

The first group intelligence was Army alpha and Army beta test.

The individual tests are mostly applied in clinical settings and group tests are administered in educational settings, industries, civil services and military.

Individual tests are more suitable for very young children, whereas group tests are more suitable for adolescents and adults.

Intelligence tests have also been classified on the basis of nature of items → verbal, non-verbal, and performance

  • Verbal test → instructions and items are reproduced through the written language; a.k.a. paper-and-pencil tests

    • eg → Army alpha test and Army general classification test, Mohsin general intelligence test, Joshi mental ability test

  • Non-verbal test → Use visual materials like pictures symbols or patterns

    • eg → Raven’s progressive matrices, Test of Non-verbal Intelligence (TONI

  • Performative test → language is only used to impart instruction and items are manipulative in nature.

    • eg → Koh’s block design, Anderson pass along test

History of intelligence testing

  • Phrenology

  • Chronometry

  • French government

  • Simon-Binet

  • Stanford-Binet

  • Army alpha, Army Beta

WAIS - IV

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth edition measures the following abilities→

  • Crystallised ability (Gc)

  • Fluid reasoning (Gf)

  • Visual processing (Gv)

  • Short-term memory (Gsm)

  • Processing speed (Gs)

It consists of 10 core subtests

  • Block design (14 items)

  • Matrix reasoning (26 items)

  • Visual puzzles (26 items)

  • Digit span (24 items)

  • Arithmetic (22 items)

  • Similarities (18 items)

  • Vocabulary (30 items)

  • Information (26 items)

  • Symbol search (60 items)

  • Coding (135 items)

It also includes 5 supplemental subtests

  • Comprehension (18 items)

  • Picture completion (24 items)

  • Figure weights (27 items)

  • Letter-Number sequencing (10 items)

  • Cancelation (2 items)

Bhatia’s Battery

Developed by Chandra Mohan Bhatia, its consists of 5 subtests, which are the measure of different cognitive functioning.

  1. Koh’s Block Test measures abstract and logical thinking, analytical and synthetical ability

  2. Alexander’s Pass-along test measures concrete and practical abilities

  3. Pattern drawing test measures spatial ability

  4. Immediate memory test is related to immediate or very short-term memory, attention span, and sustenance of attendance.

  5. Picture construction test measures the ability to benefit from sensory-motor feedback, visual-motor organisation.