INTRODUCTION
Intelligence
is the most important human characteristic in the sense that in almost all
activities of life success is determined by this factor. An intelligent person
has the ability to adjust himself to the changing circumstances with ease,
efficiency and speed. He has the capacity to assimilate ideas very quickly and
clearly. He can cope with new situations very successfully. All the inventions
of the world can be attributed to persons of intelligence.
Intelligence
tests are psychological tests that are designed to measure a variety of mental
functions. Intelligence can
be measured with the help of intelligence tests. Intelligence tests are based
on an individual’s interaction with the environment and not exclusively measure
inborn intelligence. The goal of
intelligence tests is to obtain an idea of the person's intellectual potential.
The tests center around a set of stimuli designed to yield a score based on the
test maker's model of what makes up intelligence. Intelligence tests are often
given as a part of a battery of tests.
INTELLIGENCE TESTS
Concept of Intelligence
The
term intelligence covers the abilities associated with all cognitive processes.
It is the ability which helps the individual to make adjustment with the
environment, make abstract thinking and learn from experience. Intelligence is
the way of thinking, understanding, reasoning and organizing.
Definition of intelligence
According
to Wechsler, “Intelligence is the aggregate global capacity of the individual
to act purposefully, to think rationally and tom deal effectively with his environment”.
Intelligence test
Intelligence
tests are psychological tests that are designed to measure a variety of mental
functions, such as reasoning, comprehension, and judgment.
IQ
An
intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from one of several
standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence. It is the ratio
between the Mental Age and the chronological Age, expressed into a percentage.
IQ = × 100
How to measure intelligence
While
there are a number of different methods for measuring intelligence, the
standard and most widely accepted method is by measuring a person's
'intelligence quotient' or IQ. Based on a series of tests which assess various
types of abilities such a mathematical, spatial, verbal, logic and memory.
Types of intelligence IQ test
There
are many types of IQ tests, including the famous Stanford-Binet Test, as well
as two tests developed by David Wechsler to measure IQ in non-verbal ways, as
well as verbal ways.
Different types of IQ tests
IQ
tests measuring adult intelligence also includes:
·
Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales.
·
Woodcock–Johnson Tests of Cognitive
Abilities.
·
Raven's Progressive Matrices.
·
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.
·
Cattell Culture Fair III.
·
Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales.
·
Thurstone's Primary Mental Abilities.
Classification of Intelligence
Tests
Intelligence
Tests may be classified under three categories. They are:
1.
Individual
test
2.
Group
test
3.
Performance
test
1.
Individual
Intelligence Tests
These
tests are administered to one individual at a time. These cover age group from
2 years to 18 years.
The
two main individual intelligence tests are:
i.
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test
ii.
Wechsler Bellevue Intelligence Tests -
Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Adult
Intelligence Scale (WAIS) for adults.
These
are individual intelligence tests which require one-on-one consultation with
the individual. The tests involve
various verbal and non-verbal subtests which can be combined to give an overall
IQ, but which also provide valuable separate subtest scores and measures based
on the behavioral responses of the individual to the test items.
Individual
intelligence tests are preferred by psychologist in clinics, hospitals and
other settings where clinical diagnosis are made, and where they serve not only
as measures of general intelligence but also as means of observing behavior in
a standard situation.
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Individual Tests:
Advantages:
·
Examiner can pay more attention to the
examinee.
·
Examiner can easily encourage the
examinee and observe his behavior during the test more closely.
·
Scores on individual tests are not as
dependent on reading ability as scores in group tests.
Disadvantages:
·
It is very time consuming
·
This type of tests requires a
highly-trained examiner.
·
It costs more than the group test.
2.
Group
Intelligence Test
A Group Intelligence
Test consists of tests that can be administered to a large group of people at
one time. This is opposite of an Individual Test, which is administered to one
person at a time, typically by someone receiving payment to administer the
test. Most testing today is administered as group tests considering the many
benefits that are associated with these tests. Considering the many
standardized tests that are administered each year, it is understandable that
many of these are group tests.
Group
test was developed to meet a pressing practical need. Group tests were designed
as mass testing instruments; they not only permit the simultaneous examination
of large groups but they also use simplified instruction and administration
procedures. There by requiring a minimum of training on the part of examiner.
Most
Important Group intelligence tests are:
i.
The army Alpha and Beta Tests
ii.
Terman’s Group Tests
iii.
Otis Self Administrative Tests
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Group Tests:
Advantages:
·
can be administered to very large
numbers simultaneously
·
simplified examiner role
·
scoring typically more objective
·
large, representative samples often used
leading to better established norms
·
A highly verbal group test can have a
higher validity co-efficient than an individual test.
Disadvantages:
·
Scores on the group test are generally
dependent on the reading ability.
·
Information obtained by the group test
generally less accurate than the individual tests
·
examiner has less opportunity to
establish rapport, obtain cooperation, and maintain interest
·
not readily detected if examinee tired,
anxious, unwell
·
evidence that emotionally disturbed
children do better on individual than group tests
·
examinee’s responses more restricted
·
normally an individual is tested on all
items in a group test and may become boredom over easy items and frustrated or
anxious over difficult items
·
Individual tests typically provide for
the examiner to choose items based on the test takers prior responses – moving
onto quite difficult items or back to easier items. So individual tests offer
more flexibility.
3.
Performance
Test
These
tests are administered to the illiterate persons. These tests generally involve
the construction of certain patterns or solving problems in terms of concrete
material. Some famous performance tests are:
i.
Koh’s Block Design Test
ii.
The cube Construction Tests.
iii.
The Pass Along Tests
Advantages and Limitations of
Intelligence Tests
Advantages
of Intelligence Tests
i.
Intelligence tests are used for the
purpose of making selection of suitable candidates for admission to courses
that demand different levels of intelligence.
ii.
Intelligence tests help the teacher to
classify students into classify students into homogeneous groups for providing
the individualized instruction.
iii.
Scores obtained in intelligence tests can
motivate individuals to reach higher levels.
iv.
Intelligence tests help in revealing the
potentialities of an individual and in this way make possible the prediction of
one’s success in a particular field.
v.
It helps to detect the exceptional
children such as gifted, backward and mentally retarded. This in turn helps the
teacher organize appropriate compensatory services.
vi.
It helps in the diagnosis of problematic
behavior of the student.
vii.
It helps in giving educational and
vocational guidance and counseling.
Limitations of Intelligence Tests
i.
Intelligence test scores are not a
measure of many personality characteristics.
ii.
Intelligence test scores are not proper
measures of genius or either.
iii.
Intelligence test scores among vocations
over-lap.
iv.
The tests do not measure intelligence
with complete accuracy.
v.
The measures given by the tests are
rough and general.
vi.
Proper use of the tests requires the
development of local norms and the interpretation of individual scores against
norms.
vii.
The use of intelligence tests and interpretation
of scores demand a good deal of care on the part of the testee.
viii.
Intelligence tests are not pure measures
of innate capacity.
CONCLUSION
Intelligence
tests are psychological tests that are designed to measure a variety of mental
functions, such as reasoning, comprehension, and judgment. Intelligence tests
are classified into three namely individual test, group tests and performance
test.
Individual Tests: A
test can be said individual test in the sense that they can be administered to
only one person at a time. Many of the tests in these scales require oral
responses from the examinee or necessitate the manipulation of the materials.
Group Test:
Group test was developed to meet a pressing practical need. Group test can be
administered to a group of persons at a time.
Performance test:
These tests are administered to the illiterate persons. These tests generally
involve the construction of certain patterns or solving problems in terms of
concrete material.
REFERENCE
·
J. C. Aggarwal (1991). Educational
Vocational Guidance and Counselling. Doaba Publishers. New Delhi.
·
R.P. Bhatnagar & Seema Rani (1997).
Guidance and Counselling in Education and Psychology. Surya publications.
Meerut.
·
S.K. Kochhar (1984). Educational and
Vocational Guidance in Secondary Schools. Sterling publishers Pvt Ltd. New
Delhi.
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