Gould's interpretation of Yerke's study Flashcards
What is the background to Gould’s study?
-Gould is evaluating an intelligence test carried out by Yerkes.
-Used to identify mental age
-Originally used in schools, but later adapted to administer army recruits
-Yerkes believed that intelligence was entirely genetic
Define Psychometric tests
Tests designed to measure personality, mental state or other cognitive abilities
Define Eugenics
Belief that the human race can be improved through selective breeding
Define hereditarianism
The belief that human behaviour is determined from birth
What is Yerkes aim?
To produce a valid and reliable measure of intelligence
What is Gould’s aim?
To show that Yerke’s tests and conclusions from Yerkes was flawed
What was Yerke’s sample
-1.75 million US army recruits tested between may and July 1917
What was Yerke’s sampling method?
Opportunity sampling
How was Yerke’s tests designed?
Three tests
Army Alpha test
Army Beta test
Individual exam
Describe the Army alpha test
-A written exam given to literate recruits
-8 parts, less than an hour to complete
-Given to large groups
-Consists of:
A sequence, analogies, multiple choice
Describe the army beta test
-A picture based exam given to illiterates and those that failed alpha test
-Consists of 7 parts, less than an hour.
-Could be given to large groups
-Questions were: maze running, next symbol in an XO series, translating numbers into symbols
Describe the individual exam
-A spoken test if people failed the beta test
How were the tests supposed to be administered?
-Men who were literate had to take the alpha test.
-Those illiterate and those who failed the alpha test would complete the beta
-Men who failed the beta test had to take the individual exam
What were Yerke’s findings?
-Average mental age of a white American adult was 13. (just above a moron)
-Average mental ages for cultures:
Russian: 11.34
Italian: 11.01
Polish:10.74
Black Americans:10.41
How were Yerke’s findings interpreted?
-Genetic explanation. Suggested that recruits with a score of C- were of low average intelligence and not suitable for ranks above private
-Men given a D grade are rarely suited for tasks requiring special skills
Gould carried out a review study. What is a review study?
-Researcher gathered all the data on a topic, summarising it
What are the strengths of review studies?
-Greater objectivity as they’re talking about other research
-No ethical issues as no participants
-Can suggest reliable effects by picking up on trends across a series of studies
What are the weaknesses of review studies?
-They don’t generate any new data
-Only as valid as the research they’re based on
What are the problems Gould identified with the DESIGN of Yerkes intelligence tests?
-Culturally biased questions. A European immigrant unlikely to know who Christy Mathewson is
-Beta tests assumed knowledge of items that might be unfamiliar to other cultures
-Relied on knowledge of numbers and some recruits had not even held a pen before
What are the problems Gould identified with the way Yerke’s intelligence tests were designed?
-Standards required for the alpha test were lowered, but not consistently across all camps
-Recruits who failed the alpha test not always given the beta test. Only 1/5 who failed the beta were given the individual test
-Conditions in which the tests were carried out were extremely chaotic
What problems were there with the way Yerkes explained his findings?
-Systematic biases in the designing and administering which meant that black and European participants did worse. It was really measuring their level of schooling and familiarity with US culture.
What happened as a result of Yerke’s findings?
-Used to suggest some racial groups were superior to others
-Reinforcing segregation laws
What were the long term negative effects of Yerke’s findings?
-Immigration restriction act of 1924 introduced, limiting number of europeans entering america
What did Yerkes conclude about his research?
-Intelligence is an innate quality with a hereditary basis. It is possible to grade individuals by the colour of their skin
-The average man could be considered a moron
What did Gould conclude about Yerke’s research?
-There were systematic errors in the designs of the tests, and how they were administered, which led to black recruits and immigrants scoring lower
-Tests were carried out in a disorganised way
-Not a reflection of intelligence, and led to the deaths of millions
How can Yerkes research be criticised ethically?
-No informed consent. Participants confused on the purpose of the test.
-Harm to recruits who performed poorly and judged as less intelligent
-Could not withdraw as were ordered by superior officers
-Lacks confidentiality( had to write names, ages and educational levels)
How can Yerkes research be defended ethically?
-Recruits not deceived about the purpose of the study
-Confidentiality SOMEWHAT upheld as analysis only looked at mental age scores from different backgrounds
How could Yerke’s test be considered as ethnocentric?
-Tests themselves assumed knowledge of American culture. Biased against black recruits and new immigrants to the US
How could Yerke’s test be not ethnocentric?
-The men came from a wide range of backgrounds
How could Yerke’s study be considered to have or not have internal reliability?
-Tests were standardised as always had the same questions
-Clear instructions on how to administer the tests, not always followed. Too many recruits to do in a controlled way
How would Yerke’s study be considered to have or not have external reliability?
-Very large sample of 1.75 million recruits
How could Yerke’s study be considered to have or not have internal validity?
-Low construct validity. Affected by how long they lived in the USA, how much school they had, knowledge of US culture
How could Yerke’s study be considered to have or not have external reliability?
-Population validity. Lots of different cultures, fairly generalisable
-Criterion validity. Used to predict if recruits were intelligent enough to be considered for roles as officers with those who scored low recommended as not clever enough to climb above the rank of private.
