copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 11 testing and individual differences this multimedia...

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Testing and Individual Differences

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• ISBN: 0-131-73180-7


Measuring individual differences is an essential

component of psychology, but strict guidelines and ethical

standards must be followed to ensure results and conclusions

are valid and appropriate

How Do We MeasureHow Do We MeasureIndividual Differences?Individual Differences?


Validity and ReliabilityValidity and Reliability

Validity –A property exhibited by a test that measures what it purports to measure• Face validity• Content validity• Item analysis• Criterion validity


Validity and ReliabilityValidity and Reliability

Reliability – A property exhibited by a test that yields the same results over time• Test-retest reliability• Split-half reliability


Standardization and NormsStandardization and Norms

Scientists use statistics to establish a normal curve

This curve can be used to describe most phenomena

Normal range – Scores falling near the middle of a normal distribution


The Normal Distribution of IQ ScoresThe Normal Distribution of IQ Scores

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200100

Few

Many

Num

ber

of P

erso

ns

IQ

Nor

mal

Ran

ge


Types of TestsTypes of Tests

Objective tests can be scored easily by machine

In subjective tests, individuals are given an ambiguous figure or an open-ended situation and asked to describe what they see or finish a story

Inter-rater reliability measures how similarly two different test scorers would score a test


Ethics and Standards in TestingEthics and Standards in Testing

Ethical concerns related to testing involve:The confidentiality of the test results

How to report the results

How to use the test to compare individuals

The impact of tests on society as a whole


How is IntelligenceHow is IntelligenceMeasured?Measured?

Intelligence testing has a history of controversy, but

most psychologists now view intelligence as a normally

distributed trait that can be measured by performance on

a variety of tasks



Binet-Simon Test calculated a child’s mental age and compared it to his or her chronological age

In America, testing became widespread for the assessment of Army recruits, immigrants, and schoolchildren

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is the most respected of the new American tests of intelligence



Intelligence quotient –A numerical score on an intelligence test, original computed by dividing a person’s mental age by chronological age and multiplying by 100

The original IQ calculation was abandoned in favor of standard scores based on the normal distribution


The Exceptional ChildThe Exceptional Child

Mental retardation –Often conceived as representing the lower 2% of the IQ range

Giftedness –Often conceived as representingthe upper 2% of the IQ range


What Are the ComponentsWhat Are the Componentsof Intelligence?of Intelligence?

Some psychologists believe that the essence of

intelligence is a single, general factor, while others believe intelligence is best described as a collection of

distinct abilities


What Are the ComponentsWhat Are the Componentsof Intelligence?of Intelligence?

Savant syndrome –Found in individuals who have a remarkable talent even though they are mentally slow in other domains


Psychometric Theories of IntelligencePsychometric Theories of Intelligence

g Factor –A general ability, proposed by Spearman as the main factor underlying all intelligent mental activity

Charles Spearman and his Charles Spearman and his G factorG factor

Used factor analysis and discovered that what we see as many different skills is actually one General Intelligence.

If you are good at one subject you are usually good at many others.

Jack Bauer is good at torturing, bomb defusing, shooting, figuring out evil plots and saving the country (and he is good looking). Is there anything he cannot do?


Psychometric Theories of IntelligencePsychometric Theories of Intelligence

Crystallized intelligence –The knowledge a person has acquired, plus the ability to access that knowledge

Fluid intelligence –The ability to see complex relationships and solve problems


Cognitive Theories of IntelligenceCognitive Theories of Intelligence

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic TheoryTheory

• Most commonly accepted theory today.

• Three types of intelligence

1.Analytical

2.Creative

3.Practical


Sternberg’s Triarchic TheorySternberg’s Triarchic Theory

Ability to cope with the environment; “street smarts”

Practical Practical IntelligenceIntelligence

Analytical Intelligence

Creative Intelligence



Ability to analyze problems and find correct answers; ability measured by most IQ tests

also called logical reasoning

Practical Intelligence

Analytical Analytical IntelligenceIntelligence

Creative Intelligence



Form of intelligence that helps people see new relationships among concepts; involves insight and creativity

Practical Intelligence

Analytical Intelligence

Creative Creative IntelligenceIntelligence


Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences

LinguisticLinguistic

Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical

SpatialSpatial

MusicalMusical

Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic

InterpersonalInterpersonal

IntrapersonalIntrapersonal



LinguisticLinguistic

Logical-Mathematical

Spatial

Musical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Often measured on IQ tests with reading comprehension and vocabulary tests



Linguistic

Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical

Spatial

Musical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Often measured on IQ tests with analogies, math problems and logic problems



Linguistic


SpatialSpatial

Musical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Ability to form mental images of objects and think about their relationships in space



Linguistic


Spatial

MusicalMusical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Ability to perceive and create patterns of rhythms and pitches



Linguistic


Spatial

Musical

Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Ability for controlled movement and coordination



Linguistic


Spatial

Musical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

InterpersonalInterpersonal

Intrapersonal

Ability to understand other people’s emotions, motives and actions



Linguistic


Spatial

Musical

Bodily-Kinesthetic

Interpersonal

IntrapersonalIntrapersonal

Ability to know oneself and to develop a sense of identity


Gardner’s Three New IntelligencesGardner’s Three New Intelligences

Naturalistic intelligence

Spiritual intelligence

Existential intelligence


Cultural Definitions of IntelligenceCultural Definitions of Intelligence

Cross-cultural psychologists have shown that “intelligence” has different meanings in different cultures


How Do Psychologists How Do Psychologists Explain IQ DifferencesExplain IQ Differences

Among Groups?Among Groups?

While most psychologists agree that both heredity and

environment affect intelligence, they disagree on the source of IQ differences

among racial and social groups


How Do Psychologists Explain IQ How Do Psychologists Explain IQ Differences Among Groups?Differences Among Groups?

Hereditarian arguments maintain that intelligence is substantially influenced by genetics

Environmental approaches argue that intelligence can be dramatically shaped by influences such as• Health• Economics• Education


Heritability and Group DifferencesHeritability and Group Differences

Heritability – Amount of trait variation within a group, raised under the same conditions, that can be attributed to genetic differences

Heritability says nothing about between-group differences


Heritability and Group DifferencesHeritability and Group Differences

Research with twins and adopted children shows genetic influences on a wide range of attributes, including intelligence

Research has also shown that racial and class differences in IQ scores can be eliminated by environmental changes


End of Chapter 11End of Chapter 11

copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 11 testing and individual differences this multimedia...

Documents

copyright allyn bacon

test slide

intelligence testing

general intelligence

types of intelligence

components of intelligence

intelligence quotient

essence of intelligence