IQ test have been credited in many ways in psychological studied for a long time as showing differences between two or more groups of people or individuals. However, there are claims that this test may be biased. I understand that a test is said to be biased if the criterion score the regression lines predicts tends to be too low a consistently too high or low of the members of the subgroups being investigated. Therefore, bias is the differences in the accuracy of the predictions made about a performance using the scores obtained. Many psychologists argue that the mere difference in the scores obtained is an outright bias. Other tends to assume this phenomenon and hold that there is no bias in the data or predictions obtained since the test measure what they are supposed to measure. There are several aspects of IQ test that outlines the type of biases associated with the testing. This paper describes some of the issues and scenarios surrounding IQ tests and biases.
I agree that IQ test are culturally biased because they show differences between minority groups among the cultures. However, this is a debatable position since it does not only depict inherent differences in the cultures that are not necessarily brought out by the IQ tests. Therefore, the differences in the test scores are real and show the differences in actual phenomena such as education, economic status, living standards, and opportunities, among others. The difference’s that occur in the mean score are thus real differences. For example, if the African Americans score 15 points much lower the Caucasians, this indicates that been poor has an impact on the IQ of an individual. However, this does not necessarily have an influence from ones ethnicity.
Most predictive validity tests have been acclaimed for their ability to predict performance on achievement. I disagree with this position since biases arise if the achievement tests are biased. Therefore, the biases in the achievement test are carried into the results of the performance. If one cultures hold to some values strongly than the others, the biases in the achievement test and consequently the result of the IQ test remain culturally biased. It is practically difficult to have culture free test since everyone exists on pace that is defined by a certain culture. The construction validity in the test measures the same aspects across culture. The difference arises in the different definitions and norms entrenched in one’s culture. Thus, it’s real to have cultural biases in IQ test. This can be reduced if the test items are constructed in such a way that they remove biases. The cultural biases may not exist if the items have no biases. It has been shown that the biases in the IQ test can easily be assumed by direct observation that lacks empirical backing. The notion thus exists in the minds as a stereo type towards some groups of individuals.
It is true that National norms present an unfair ground for IQ tests. I agree to this statement. For example, if Caucasian children are tested against Caucasian children and African American children are tested against Caucasian children. This presents a unique scenario that does not reflect the reality in the society. One wonders that these are definitely ethnic groups that hold to different specific national norms could be compared to one another. How to determine those with the intercultural background remains a guess. There are also many differences that influence ones intelligence as the environment. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how white one is, or how black one is while testing the IQ. It also present s critical difficult of defining the influence of the environment as rural, urban, or suburban. This situation leads to definite biases in the performance test and hence the IQ.
An issue arises whether the results are used to make chances that are out to uplift the standards of the poor performances or are used to amplify the differences. This is true in the society since some obvious differences exist naturally. The poor performers have a history of poor teachers or attention in the learning processes from the teachers. This makes the achievements test to not be applied on equal grounds owing to the differences of the population in the tests. Therefore, the poor performances have not been offered particular opportunities and courses in the schools that keep them in the same level as the others. The poor scores are thus supposed to be indicators of rapid actions that need to be taken to uplift the poor performances of the children.
I agree to the position that the minorities may not appreciate the need for competition and thus would not put efforts in the same. The situation leads to the minority been compromised in the performances than their counterparts who appreciates the need for competition. If the minority blacks are told that they shall fail, they shall actually fail. If they are not told, they perform normally just as the others.
So are the IQ test relay biased? This case depends on the approach one gives to it. If one limits the analysis to the specific test scores resulting from an unbiased achievement tests, then, the answer would easily be, no. However, if one interprets the scenarios that surround the definitions of intelligences, and how is gained from the society, then the answer would be yes. Therefore, the biases in the IQ remain fluid depending on the aspect under consideration.
Work cited
Richard Niolon. Are IQ Tests Biased? Resources for Students and Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/intell/biased.html on 22, April, 2104.
