INTELLIGENCE TESTS

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.