Gould✅

Question 1

Who was Yerkes?

Answer 1

A psychologist who did research into testing for intelligence (1921)

Question 2

Aim:

Answer 2

To highlight the fundamental issues of the original study by Yerkes. Yerkes aimed to devise a scientific way ti test intelligence on a mass scale

Question 3

Pps

Answer 3

Large sum of US military (1.75 mill)
Ages 18-40’s
Opportunity sampling
White/ black regiments

Question 4

What were the three different types of tests used?

Answer 4

Alpha- words and numbers
Beta- pictures
Individual examination - spoken test

Question 5

What happened if a pp failed a test?

Answer 5

If failed Alpha, given beta, if failed beta, given individual examination

Question 6

What were some of the problems found by Gould?

Answer 6

• more test of knowledge than intelligence
• only given an hour (rushing?)
• experiences were different for all- different army camps
• some questions were more about American culture (disadvantage for non Americans)

Question 7

What were Yerkes findings?

Answer 7

Average white man mental age: 13
Average black man mental age: 10.4

Russian higher than Italian and polish but only just.

Question 8

What did Yerkes call these men?

Answer 8

Stated that the average man of many countries would be classed as a moron

Question 9

Yerkes conclusion:

Answer 9

• average man= moron
• intelligence is innate and hereditary
• it’s possible to grade ppl by their skin colour

Question 10

Positives of study:

Answer 10

• lots of data collected
• quantitative data- comparisons and establish group norm
• marking a question as wrong may not have considered valid reasoning
• representative sample (large and wide range of backgrounds/ cultures)

Question 11

Negatives of study:

Answer 11

• Yerkes assumed intelligence didn’t change over time and was a measurable thing (proven otherwise)
• Results of tests were used as a political and racist tool (meant more white ppl were in higher command)
• Distressing for some who have not been in education before
• no mention of consent or right to withdraw?
• unaware that test results would have sculpt their future in the military
• did not take into account cultural bias (American based questions mainly)- test results show positive correlation with time spent in American and test score

Question 12

Was the study considered ethnocentric?

Answer 12

Highly ethnocentric.
Heavy bias
Tests relied on cultural knowledge, not pure measures of intelligence

Question 13

Practical applications:

Answer 13

• received huge public attention- mental tested were marketed to areas such as education
• results were used for army regiments/ ranking
• mental tests support the talented and not so talented in schools
• results of study restrictive immigration from 1924-1939 for around 6 million refugees