Gould (1982) Flashcards
Outline the background to this reserved by Gould
In 1905 the first intelligence test was developed and was adapted for use in the USA, it was known as the Stanford-Binet test.
Colonel Yerkes during WW1 developed an intelligence test for recruits to the army.
What was the aim of Goulds research?
To identify:
The problematic nature of psychometric testing in general and the measurement of intelligence in particular.
The problem of theoretical bias influencing research in psychology.
The problem of the political and ethical implications of research.
What was the research method used by Gould?
• The Gould study is not a piece of empirical research. It is important to be aware that the article is an edited extract from Gould’s (1981) book.
The study is therefore a review article that looks at the history of Robert M. Yerkes’ intelligence testing of recruits for the US army in WW1, and his
attempt to establish psychology as a scientific discipline
What was the sample used?
1.75 million army recruits in the USA during WW1. The recruits included White Americans, ‘Negroes’ and European immigrants.
Outline the tested conducted by Yerks.
The Army Alpha - this was given to literate recruits. It included 8 parts and took less than an hour. Items in the test comprised tasks such as the next number in a sequence, uncarbling sentences and analogies.
The Army Beta - this was for illiterates and men who had failed the Army Alpha. It included 7 parts and included maze running, cube counting and translating numerals inter symbols.
Individual examination - failures in the Army Beta were to be recalled for an individual examination.
What were Goulds evaluation of the Alpha test?
Culturally specific information
Had to understand the American English language/
What were Goulds evaluation of the Beta test?
• The pictures were again culturally specific and would have been extremely difficult to complete if participants had no knowledge of some
of the items.
The instructions were written (in English), in three of the seven parts the answers had to be given in writing, yet this was a test for illiterates who
may never have held a pencil beforehand
Outline Gould’s evaluation of the administration of the tests.
People who failed the alpha test or were illiterate were meant to be given the beta test but in some camps there did not take it and received no score.
Queues for the Beta Test began to build up and this led to an artificial lowering of standards by the administrators in order to reallocate
more men to the Alpha Test
Inconsistencies in administration, further problems arose with men, especially black men, who failed the Alpha Test not
being allowed to re-sit the Beta Test.
Only one fifth of those who failed the Beta Test were allowed to take the individual examinations.
What did Yerks find from his research.
The average mental age of white, American, adult, males stood just above the edge of moronity at a shocking and meagre 13.
Explained by: Negroes and feeble-minded had been interbreeding and lowering the overall intelligence of the population.
The black man had an average mental age of 10.41. However the lighter the skin colour. The higher the score
What were the subsequent developments from Yerke’s research?
These results meant that an Immigration Restriction Act was produced in 1924 which reduced entry for any foreign born nationality.
The persecution of the Jews which started well before the actual beginning of the Second World War, meant that many Jews tried to escape from their homeland, but there was ‘no admittance’ to America.
What did Gould conclude?
IQ tests are culturally and historically biased.
IQ tests do not measure innate intelligence.
IQ testing is often unreliable.
IQ tests may not produce valid results.
Inappropriate, poorly administered IQ tests can lead to tragic consequences.
Nations can be graded by their intelligence.
