Psychometric tests: intelligence and personality Flashcards
intelligence test
a series of questions and the exercises which attempt to assess peoples mental abilities in a way that generates a numerical score, so that one person can be compared to another
intelligence is defined as
the ability acquire knowledge and skills
Alfred Binet
a lawyer, self taught in psychology
- created first widely used standardised test of intelligence
which scale did Alfred Binet create
an intelligent test called the Simon- Binet scale
Simon-Binet scale (french)
used to identify student who would benefit from remedial eduction
Galtons Anthropometric lab
broader movement to measure intelligence
downfalls of anthropometric lab
- no consideration of test anxiety
- validity- were they really measuring what they were aiming for
- artificial and abstract
General intelligence
Charles Spearman performed a factor analysis of different skills and found that people who did well in one area also di well in another
Spearman suspected that individuals who did well in numerous areas had
high “g’
-GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
Factor analysis
refers to a statistical technique that determines how different variables relate to each other
-for example whether they form cluster that tend to vary together.
factor analysis
is a practical way in which a theory can be tested
Data reduction techniques (2)
- Principle components analysis
- Exploratory factor analysis
Data reduction techniques: Principle components analysis
xxx
Multiple intelligences
Howard Gardner: the ‘savant syndrome’ refers to having isolated islands of high ability admit a sea of below- average cognitive and social functioning
David Weshler
Developed a a group of tests called: Intelligence PLS
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) measure
g (general intelligence) / IQ
subscore for Wechsler tests measuring “g”/ IQ
- verbal comprehension
- processing speed
- perceptual organisation
- working memory
fluid intelligence
refers to the ability to think quickly and abstractly
crystallised intelligence
refers to accumulated wisdom, knowledge, expertise and vocabulary
problem with Wechsler test
- performance anxiety
- educational and cultural biases
why is the idea that intelligence is fit for life a disputed theory
since it is thought decision making improves, also frontal lobe continues to develop
standardisation of tests
the test must be pre-tested to a representative sample of people and form a normal distribution
what will a normal distribution look like
a bell curve
e.g. the peak = average
The Flynn Effect and intelligence score
-score of intelligence test tends to drift upwards over time in a genetically stable population
explain why The Flynn Effect shows intelligence scores drifting upwards over time in a genetically stable population
- improvement in nutrition and early life development
- correlation doesn’t mean causation
- probs not a test related bias
if you have a higher ID
you generally live longer, stay in education longer, earn more money and live longer- survival of the fittest???
Personality is defined as
a persons internally based characteristic ways of acting and thinking
Projective tests for personality
contains series of ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots, to which the test taker must respond about his perception of the stimuli
example projective personality tests
- Rorschach Inkblots test
- Thematic Apperception test (TAT)
personality Inventories
designed to measure multiple stable traits of personality and in some cases disorder
- a series of questions or statements for which the test taker must indicate whether they apply themselves or not
Factor analysis and Eysenck’s personality dimension
Using factor analysis, Hans and Sybil Eysenck found that many personality traits actually are a function of two basic dimensions along which we all vary
- research supports their idea that variations are linked to genetics
which two lines are Eysecks personality dimensions
- introverted-> extraverted
- stable -> unstable
which is the most popular personality test
Five factor model of personality
Five-factor model of personality
these given factors seem to be universal and are consistent from about the age of 30
- measured using NEO-PI-R
the ‘Big Five’ personality factors
- Neuroticism
- Extraversion
- Openness
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
- worried vs calm
- insecure versus secure
- self-pitying vs self satsified
Extravertion
- sociable versus retiring
- fun-loving versus sober
- affectionate versus reserved
openness
- imagninative vs down to earth
- preference for variety vs preference for routine
- independent vs conforming
Agreeableness
- Softhearted versus ruthless
- Trusting vs suspicious
- helpful vs uncooperative
Conscientiousness
- well organised versus disorganised
- careful vs careless
- Self-dicisplined versus weak willed
item characteristic curves
new insight into the shape of peoples responses
-another approach to how these items fit together
what other personality traits can be measured
- mood states
- motivation
- attitudes
- beliefs
how to construct a useful scale
- double or triple check there isn’t something already out there thats suitable
- Item sampling: depth and breath
- practical length
- cultural, ethnic, educational etc biases
- piloting
- check reliability and validity
key concepts of psychometric test
-reliability, validity and standardisation
Don’t develop something
new unless yo really have to
