1. olson 1 Testing and Individual Differences

2. 2 olson 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 Measure Individual Differences?

3. 3 olson Validity and Reliability Validity – A property exhibited by a test that measures what it purports to measure Face validity Content validity Item analysis Criterion validity

4. 4 olson Validity and Reliability Reliability – A property exhibited by a test that yields the same results over time Test-retest reliability Split-half reliability

5. 5 olson Standardization 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

6. 6 olson The Normal Distribution of IQ Scores 0102030405060708090110120130140150160170180190200100 Few Many Number of Persons IQ Normal Range

7. 7 olson Types 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

8. 8 olson Inkblots

9. 9 Inter-rater reliability measures how similarly two different test scorers would score a test With this idea in mind Rorschach Tests are losing ground.

10. 10 olson Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

11. 11 olson Ethics 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

12. 12 olson What do you know? 1.When we check to see whether a test will yield the same results over time, we are assessing its a)Reliability b)Validity c)Normality d)Objectivity e)subjectivity 2.The TAT is a _______________ test? 3.All of the following are components of ethical testing except: a)Item analysis b)Validity c)Reliability d)Objectivity e)instinct

13. 13 olson How is Intelligence 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

14. 14 olson How is Intelligence Measured? 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

15. 15 olson How is Intelligence Measured? 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

16. 16 olson Sample IQ Test Items Select the best definition for each word: Viable a.Traveled b.Capable of living c.V-shaped d.Can be bent Imminent a.Defenseless b.Expensive c.Impending d.notorious

17. 17 olson Analogies: examine the relationship between the first two words. Then find the answer that has the same relationship with the word in bold letters: Washington:Lincoln July: a.January b.April c.May d.October Ocean:Canoe Verse: a.Poem b.Pen c.Water d.serve

18. 18 olson Similarities: Which letter on the right belongs to the same category as the one on the left? 1.JAMSZT 2.ASDUVX

19. 19 olson Sequences: Choose the answer that best completes the sequence: Azbycxd?E, s, u, w, f 1 3 6 10 15?16, 18, 21, 27, 128

20. 20 olson Mathematical reasoning Portland and Seattle are actually 150 miles apart, but on a map they are two inches apart. If Chicago and Norfolk are five inches apart on the same map, what is the actual distance between those two cities? a.125 miles b.250 miles c.375 miles d.525 miles The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

21. 21 olson The Exceptional Child Mental retardation – Often conceived as representing the lower 2% of the IQ range Giftedness – Often conceived as representing the upper 2% of the IQ range

22. 22 olson Terman’s studies Selected 1528 children who scored near the top of the IQ range in 1921. Longitudinal study until they were adults. Retested them throughout the years. Gathered information on achievements and adjustment patterns. Excelled in school They published 2000 scientific articles, patented 235 inventions, wrote 92 books. Despite achievements none of them became a Picasso, Einstein etc. Many of them led normal uneventful lives.

23. 23 olson Check your understanding RECALL: One of Binet’s great ideas was that of mental age, which was defined as a. the average age at which people achieve a particular score on an intelligence test. b. an individual’s biological age plus the score he or she achieves on a mental test. c. an individual’s level of emotional maturity, as judged by the examiner. d. The variability in scores seen when an individual is tested repeatedly. e. a means of measuring performance on a test against a specific learning goal.

24. 24 olson APPLICATION: You have tested a 12-year-old child and found that she has a mental age of 15. Using the original IQ formula, what is her IQ? a.50 b.75 c.100 d.115 e.125

25. 25 olson RECALL: A problem with the original IQ formula is that it gave a distorted picture of the intellectual abilities of a.Adults b.Children c.Retarded persons d.Gifted students e.The elderly

26. 26 olson Core Concept If intelligence is a normally distributed characteristic, then you would expect to find it a.To be different abilities in different people b.To be spread throughout the population, but with most people clustered near the middle of the range. c.To a significant degree only in people whose IQ scores are above 100. d.To be determined entirely by hereditary factors. e.To be determined entirely by environmental factors.

27. 27 olson What Are the Components 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

28. 28 olson What Are the Components of Intelligence? Savant syndrome – Found in individuals who have a remarkable talent even though they are mentally slow in other domains Dustin Hoffman portrayed an autistic savant in the film Rain Man.

29. 29 olson Psychometric Theories of Intelligence People who performed well on one cognitive test tended to perform well on other tests, while those who scored badly on one test tended to score badly on other. He concluded that intelligence is general cognitive ability that could be measured and numerically expressed g Factor – A general ability, proposed by Spearman as the main factor underlying all intelligent mental activity G – is for general intellect, something that is innate.

30. 30 olson Psychometric Theories of Intelligence “Mental Measurements” These Psychologists develop tests to measure mental abilities Raymond Cattell 1963 two components: 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

31. 31 olson Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Practical Intelligence Analytical Intelligence Creative Intelligence

32. 32 olson Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Ability to cope with the environment; “street smarts” Practical Intelligence Analytical Intelligence Creative Intelligence

33. 33 olson Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Ability to analyze problems and find correct answers; ability measured by most IQ tests also called logical reasoning Practical Intelligence Analytical Intelligence Creative Intelligence

34. 34 olson Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Form of intelligence that helps people see new relationships among concepts; involves insight and creativity Practical Intelligence Analytical Intelligence Creative Intelligence

35. 35 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal

36. 36 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Often measured on IQ tests with reading comprehension and vocabulary tests

37. 37 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Often measured on IQ tests with analogies, math problems and logic problems

38. 38 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Ability to form mental images of objects and think about their relationships in space

39. 39 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Ability to perceive and create patterns of rhythms and pitches

40. 40 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Ability for controlled movement and coordination

41. 41 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Ability to understand other people’s emotions, motives and actions

42. 42 olson Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Spatial Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Ability to know oneself and to develop a sense of identity

43. 43 olson Gardner’s Three New Intelligences Naturalistic intelligence - ability to discern patterns in nature – (e.g. Darwin) Spiritual Intelligence - recognition of the spiritual Existential intelligence - concern with 'ultimate issues' – The meaning of life kind of stuff.

44. 44 olson Cultural Definitions of Intelligence Cross-cultural psychologists have shown that “intelligence” has different meanings in different cultures

45. 45 olson How Do Psychologists Explain IQ Differences 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

46. 46 olson How Do Psychologists Explain IQ 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

47. 47 olson Heritability 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

48. 48 olson Heritability 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

49. olson 49 End of PPT