Psychology - Psychology Intelligence - Quick Guides

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Study GuidePsychology–Psychology:Intelligence1.Intelligence TestsIntelligenceis often described as a person’s overallmental ability, including how well they think,reason, and solve problems.Some of the most widely used intelligence tests were developed byDavid Wechsler. He definedintelligence as:“The global capacity to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with theenvironment.”Most psychologists agree with this general definition. However, they donot fully agreeon:•How intelligence should beoperationally defined(clearly defined in measurable terms)•Thebest way to measureintelligence accurately1.1How Intelligence Tests Are ConstructedTo be useful and trustworthy, intelligence tests must meet three important standards:1.Standardization2.Reliability3.ValidityStandardizationStandardizationmeans that:•The test is given and scored in thesame way for everyone•Results can be compared fairly across individualsTest scores are interpreted by comparing them to scores from astandardization sample—a large,representative group of people who took the test under similar conditions.This comparison helps determine whether a score is above average, average, or below average.

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Study GuideReliabilityReliabilityrefers to theconsistencyof test results. A reliable test produces similar results underconsistent conditions.There are several ways to measure reliability:Test–Retest Reliability•Compares scores from thesame test taken at two different timesAlternate-Form Reliability•Compares scores fromdifferent versionsof the same testSplit-Half Reliability•Compares scores fromtwo halves of the same test, such as odd-numbered versus even-numbered questionsIf the scores are similar, the test is considered reliable.ValidityValidityrefers to whether a testactually measures what it claims to measure. A test can bereliable without being valid, but it cannot be valid unless it is reliable.Different types of validity include:Content Validity•Measures how well the test covers arepresentative sample of the behavior or knowledgebeing testedPredictive Validity•Indicates how well a test canpredict future performance, such as academic or job successFace Validity•Refers to whether the testappears appropriatebased on how the questions look•This is the weakest form of validityConstruct Validity•Examines how well a test measures anabstract concept, such as intelligence

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Study GuideConcurrent Validity•Shows how closely a test’s results match those ofanother established testmeasuring thesame abilityKey TakeawayIntelligence tests aim to measure general mental ability, but defining and measuring intelligence iscomplex. For a test to be useful, it must be standardized, reliable, and valid. Understanding theseprinciples helps explain why some tests are more trustworthy than others.2.Measures of IntelligencePsychologists have been interested in measuring intelligence for a long time. Early researcherswanted to understandhow people differ in mental abilitiesand how these differences can bemeasured fairly.2.1Early Work on Intelligence TestingOne of the first scientists to study intelligence wasSir Francis Galton. In the late 1800s, Galtonbelieved intelligence was closely related tosensory abilities, such as:•Visual and hearing sharpness•Reaction timeAlthough modern psychology no longer defines intelligence this way, Galton’s work helped start thescientific study ofindividual differences.2.2The Binet–Simon Intelligence ScaleThe first practical intelligence test was created byAlfred BinetandTheodore Simon.Key Ideas•The test was designed forchildren•It measuredmental age, or how a child performs compared to others of the same age•Mental age was compared tochronological ageThis comparison produced amental quotient, which helped estimate a child’s learning potential.

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