Intelligence Testing

Question 1

What are the different appraches to intelligence testing ?

Answer 1

1) Psychometric approach - concerned with structure of test, correlates and underlying dimensions

2) Information processing approach - concerned with processes that underly how we learn and solve problems

3) Cognitive approach - concerned with how we adapt to real-world demands

Question 2

What are the 4 most common definitions of intelligence ?

Answer 2

1) the ability to adapt to new situations
2) the ability to learn new things
3) the ability to solve problems
4) the ability for abstraction

Question 3

Who began intelligence testing and how did he define intelligence ?

Answer 3

Theodore Binet (1904)

-the ability to find and maintain purpose and direction
-the ability to make necessary adaptations to reach that purpose and direction
-engage in self-critisism so that necessary adjustments can be made

Question 4

What were some of the important concepts from Binet ?

Answer 4

1) Age differation
-Older children have greater ability than younger children.
-mental and actual age can be differentiated

2)General mental ability
-total product of different and distinct elements of intelligence
-Spearman’s G : one general factor underlying many specific factors
-Intelligence can be represented by a single score

Question 5

What were Wechler’s contributions to intelligence testing ?

Answer 5

1) Intelligence has certain specific functions that inter-related, with each element contributing to general intelligence

2) Intelligence is related to seperate abilities
-Wechler tried to measure these abilities through sub-tests on overall test

Question 6

What were some of the critiques towards Binet, from Weschler ?

Answer 6

1. Binet scale was not appropriate for adults
2. Non-intellective factors were not emphasized
3. Binet did not take into account the decline of performance with aging
4. Mental age norms do not apply to adults

Question 7

Adjust the definition of intelligence

Answer 7

Intellectual ability is conceptualized as multiple intelligences :

• fluid intelligence: abilities that allows us to think, reason, problem-solve and acquire new knowledge

-crystalized intelligence: the already acquired knowledge

-Verbal Intelligence : the ability to analyse information and solve problems using language based-reasoning

-Performance IQ: mental capacity in dealing with nonverbal skills

Question 8

What is the purpose of intelligence testing ?

Answer 8

For Children : School placement

For adults : Neuropsychological assessment, Forensic assessment, disability grants , work placement

Question 9

Name and explain Weschlers intelligence test

Answer 9

Measures intelligence as a construct in the form of the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ)