Lecture 6a: intelligence (the IQ test)

Question 0

what is an IQ test?

Answer 0

it means intelligence quotient test

• it measures people’s ability to do a range of tasks that seem to require intellignece
• get a score and compare that to everyone else

Question 1

achievement vs. aptitude tests

Answer 1

achievement: measure “crystallized” intelligence (or the success in aquiring skill or knowledge of something)
aptitude: measure “fluid” intelligence (or the ability to get skills or knowlege in the future)

Question 2

task that are performed on IQ tests:

Answer 2

knowledge questions
similarities b\w things
math things
word meanings
puzzles
ect

Question 3

factor analysis of IQ tests

Answer 3

factor analysis is how some single ability underlies sucess in performing a number of different things
-by using this method, it suggests that there is some general ability (G factor) that determines performance on IQ tests

Question 4

IQ and alfred binet (1857-1911):

Answer 4

in 1904 the french gov. wanted a test that could see what kids were having probs learning, so binet thought that they should measure the MA (mental age) or level of mental development relative to other children of the same age

Question 5

what did binet’s IQ test look like?

Answer 5

measured vocab., memory, and perception

• questions varied in difficulty
• intelligence quotient (IQ)= mental age/actual age*100
• didnt allow comparing intelligence in adults

Question 6

lewis terman

Answer 6

in 1916 he modified binet’s test for use in north america.

-it was still only used for kids

Question 7

david wechsler

Answer 7

• in the 1930’s he made the first IQ test for adults
• called the weschler adult intelligence scale or WAIS
• the average score is 100
• later he made a kids version
• both tests contained vocab, math, short-term memory span, judgments of similarity, general knowledge

Question 8

binet’s original goal for IQ testing (3)

Answer 8

1. find out who was a problem learner
2. test kids individually
3. measure mental ability in kids from a similar background

Question 9

history: IQ testing in north america (3)

Answer 9

1. for judging everyone’s aptitude for success
2. people were tested in huge groups
3. the same test was used for all people of all backgrounds

Question 10

IQ testing by H.H. Goddard

Answer 10

• this IQ test had rankings such as: idiot, and moron

- when most immigrants were tested they were considered feeble-minded

Question 11

what is the problem with IQ testing in relation to cultural bias?

Answer 11

performance from middle-class white people is not a good standard of measuring the IQ of people from other groups
-cultural background can influence attitudes and responses to test taking

Question 12

differences in IQ could be based on differences in:

Answer 12

1. mental ability

2. differences in experience

Question 13

if we eliminate the questions that members of one social group do better on than another social group, will that solve the problem of cultural bias?

Answer 13

no, because that could risk the validity of the IQ tests.

Question 14

can intelligence tests measure overal mental ability across situations??

Answer 14

no way. but they may be able to measure future sucess in cultural institutions created by the group that the test was standardized on (e.g., schools and companies)