Midterm IQ test
- Describe Sternberg and Gardner’s theories of intelligence. Explain how Sternberg’s theory differs from previous models of intelligence?
Howard Gardner proposed a theory of multiple intelligence, which insisted that numerical expression of human intelligence is impossible and does not provide a holistic measure of human intelligence and ability. According to Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence, eight types of intelligences were described(Gardner, 1985).
- Visual-spatial intelligence
- Verbal-linguistic intelligence
- Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence
- Logical-mathematical intelligence
- Interpersonal intelligence
- Intrapersonal intelligence
- Musical intelligence
- Naturalistic intelligence
Robert Sternberg proposed the triarchic theory of intelligence, which was similar to what Gardner’s theory of intelligence in some aspects. According to Robert Sternberg, Intelligence was defined as a mental activity that was directed towards purposive adaptation in terms of selection, shaping of real world situation/environments that is relevant to one’s life. According to Sternberg, successful intelligence comprised of analytical intelligence or problem solving abilities, creative intelligence (ability to adapt to new situations using past experience), and practical intelligence (ability to adapt to changing environments)(Sternberg, 1985).
Both Sternberg and Gardner’s theory differs from the more traditional models of intelligence. Through the triarchic theory of intelligence, Sternberg proposed that intelligence surmises many other qualitative traits like creativity, pragmatism, and analytical thinking.
- Compare and contrast reliability and validity. Discuss test standardization
While measuring or assessing a variable using asset procedure the reliability and validity of the method is very important. These two aspects together contribute to the overall dependency of the test used to measure the particular variable in question.
Reliability: Reliability refers to the degree to which the measurements are accurate. For example reliability of a watch is how well it measures time. Therefore a car that fails to start occasionally is not very reliable. Another example is that of a weighing scale, if one pound of sugar is weighed on the same scale on different occasions, the results should be the same for the same bag of sugar. Reliability refers to the internal consistency of the measurement.
Validity: Validity is the measurement of accuracy. A reliable test may be inaccurate as it may provide the wrong information consistently. For example if you do not adjust the time of your watch after travelling from London to Moscow. The watch will still be reliable, but it will provide inaccurate time as the time zone has changed. Second, if your weighing scale is calibrated wrong it may say that you weigh 150 pounds rather than 130 and it may consistently keep doing so. Therefore the weighing scale is reliable but inaccurate.
Standardization: Standardization is a process by which the consistency of a test is designed by creating rules and regulations to control for confounding factors that may affect the test results. Standardization of a test is important when the experiment is replicated on the temporal scale on multiple participants. Standardization of a test is important for experiments where researchers want to showcase the internal validity of the test.
- Define performance test and culture-fair test. Discuss why such tests are needed, where they are useful, and what advantages and disadvantages they provide.
Performance test: Performance test was first conducted by Howard Andrew Knox in Ellis Island (Richardson, 2003). The performance test was deigned to evaluate the mental faculties of immigrants to the United States, who had limited knowledge of English. Knox was instrumental in developing an IQ evaluation approach that transcended the barriers of language and required verbal and nonverbal approaches to measure the competency of candidates. The disadvantage of this test is that it does not provide a holistic evaluation of intelligence.
Culture-fair test: The culture fair test is designed to remove culture bias in intelligence testing. It has been found that certain tests are inherently biased towards certain cultures, therefore people from different cultures are likely to score differently on such evaluations. Therefore in order to standardize the IQ measurements, culture fair tests were designed that eliminated the language barrier and tested participants on cognitive abilities. The biggest advantage of the culture-fair test is the standardization against the confounding variable of culture that separates participants. However, the culture fair tests sacrifices some the accuracy to some extent. Studies show that Culture-fair tests lag behind standard tests in predicting academic performance since in real life the members of a minority cultural community interact with people from different cultures and their successes are measured on the same scale as anyone else.
- Define intelligence and explain why psychologists have difficulty defining intelligence
Intelligence can be defined as a person’s ability to gather, process and apply knowledge and information to abstract problems and real world scenarios to improve their fitness. Intelligence also encompasses aspects of communication, self-awareness, logic, memory, planning, creativity as well as emotional and social awareness.
Intelligence is an abstract concept that tries to understand differences in mental capabilities between humans based on a standardized test. However intelligence comprises of so many facets of human psychology like cognitive, non-cognitive, emotional, social capabilities that it is hard to surmise a definition that encompasses all aspects of human intelligence. Furthermore, the definition of intelligence varies between cultures. For example an astronaut may be considered a highly intelligent individual in the Western Culture, but a good animal tracker may be considered a more intelligent individual among Bushmen.
- Discuss how iq changes as we grow older. Include what aspects of IQ change with aging
We cannot measure the IQ of newborns, from childhood till adolescence IQ scores usually increases as students learn new and imbibe new concepts and develop their personalities. In the absence of neurodegenerative diseases, a person can keep on improving their IQ scores but not indefinitely. However, age has an impact on IQ, it has been found that as we age the visual sensory capabilities lose function and that might affect IQ score performance in older adults. It has been found that the performance in speed of processing, working memory and long term memory declines in adults as they age. The age of the start for decline is 30 years of age. On the other hand, world knowledge increases over time and as human brain shrinks over time the IQ also fluctuates.
- Discuss standardized IQ test used today ( WAIS, WISC, Stanford Binet)
WAIS Intelligence test: The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is designed to measure the intelligence of adults and adolescents. The questionnaire comprises of 60 questions and it is currently in its fourth version. This intelligence scale was founded by Wechsler based on the definition that intelligence can be defined as the global capacity of a person to act purposefully, think rationally and deal effectively with his environment. The Wechsler scale is different from the Binet scale on various fundamental aspects
- Wechsler disagreed with the practices of the Binet scoring system by not providing a single score for IQ
- The timed nature of binet test provided an undue advantage to younger adults.
- According to Wechsler, the binet test emphasized more on metal age norms which were not applicable on adults.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC): this scale was also developed by David Wechsler and constitutes an individually administered IQ test for children between ages 6-16 and provides an IQ score. This test does not require reading or writing abilities therefore students from different cultural backgrounds can also take this test. This test looks at a child’s general intellectual ability through verbal comprehension index, processing speed index, verbal spatial index, fluid reasoning index, and working memory index.
Stanford Binet scale: The Stanford Binet Scale is another individually administered IQ test that measures the cognitive ability and intelligence of participants. The Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale is presently in its Fifth version and evaluates participants on five attributes viz., knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory, and fluid reasoning. This test is a modified version of the Binet-Simon test and is used to identify developmental and learning disabilities in children.
- Discuss Emotional Intelligence? Do you feel it is relevant or useful in psychology, why or why not?
Emotional intelligence is a very important aspect of human psychology and social research. Often serial killers can have IQ scores but show abysmal performance in Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. According to Peter Salovey and J.D. Mayer, emotional intelligence is a type of social intelligence that showcases how a person monitors one’s own and other’s feelings or emotions in perspective of a social context(Goleman, 2006; Salovey, Mayer, & Caruso, 2002). The four aspects of emotional intelligence are; a. perceiving emotions, b. Reasoning with emotions, c. understanding emotions, d. Managing emotions.
Emotional intelligence is a very important aspect of Intelligence testing as human beings are social animals and therefore should be tested based on their social intelligence as well cognitive abilities. Furthermore, in real world scenario effectiveness in a stressful work environment can be better evaluated through the assessment of non-cognitive abilities, competencies, coping mechanisms, and tolerance to stress.
- Discuss standardization of a test. How do you believe intelligence should be measured?
Standardization is a procedure by which a test is given a certain amount of validity both internal and external. Therefore the test results adjust for inherent biases that may lead to different results across spatially and temporally separated participants. The standardization of a test provides uniformity to the test-taking procedure so that all participants are exposed to the same independent variables or factors and there are no confounding factors that may affect the test results. In a country like United States, students appear for SAT exams which is a form standardized test, designed to evaluate the academic prowess of students appearing from diverse cultural, socio-economical and academic backgrounds.
Intelligence is a very complicated quality to measure, ideally intelligence should not only be a measure of a person’s cognitive abilities and analytical skills, and it should also combine facets of their personality along with emotional intelligence. We live in a society that has a very complex social fabric and therefore having good cognitive abilities is not the only desirable qualification, empathy, coping mechanisms, communications, team work, leaderships etc. are vital for measuring the ability of individuals.
References
Gardner, H. (1985). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. Basic books.
Goleman, D. (2006). Emotional intelligence. Random House LLC.
Richardson, J. T. E. (2003). Howard Andrew Knox and the origins of performance testing on Ellis Island, 1912-1916. History of Psychology, 6(2), 143.
Salovey, P., Mayer, J. D., & Caruso, D. (2002). The positive psychology of emotional intelligence. Handbook of Positive Psychology, 159, 171.
Sternberg, R. J. (1985). Beyond IQ: A triarchic theory of human intelligence. CUP Archive.
