Unit 11: Testing and Individual Differences Flashcards
Intelligence
mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations
Intelligence test
a method for assessing an individual’s mental aptitudes and comparing them with those of others, using numerical scores
General intelligence (g)
a general intelligence factor that, according to Spearman and others, underlies specific mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test
Factor Analysis
a statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person’s total score
Savant syndrome
a condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill, such as in computation or drawing
Emotional intelligence
the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions
Mental age
a measure of intelligence test performance devised by Binet; the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
Stanford-Binet
the widely used American revision of Binet’s original intelligence test
Intelligence quotient
(IQ) defined originally as the ratio of mental age to chronological age multiplied by 100.
Achievement tests
tests designed to assess what a person has learned
Aptitude tests
tests designed to predict a person’s future performance; aptitude is the capacity to learn
Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS)
the most widely used intelligence test; contains verbal and performance (non verbal subtests)
Standardization
defining meaningful scores by comparison with the performance of a pretested group
Normal curve
symmetrical, bell shaped, physical, psychological
Reliability
the extent to which a test yields consistent results, as assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, or on retesting
Validity
the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
Content validity
the extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest
Predictive validity
the success with which a test predicts the behavior it is designed to predict; it is assessed by computing the correlation between test scores and the criterion behavior (also called criterion-relates validity)
Intellectual disability
a condition of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence score of 70 or below and difficulty in adapting to the demands of life
Mild intellectual disability
Intelligence score (50-70)
6th grade skills
Adults may achieve self-supporting social and vocation skills
Moderate intellectual disability
Intelligence score (35-50)
2nd grade skills
may be able to work
Severe intellectual disability
Intelligence score (20-35)
may learn to talk and perform simple tasks
work/job unlikely
Profound intellectual disability
Intelligence score (below 20)
require constant aid and supervision
Stereotype threat
a self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype.
