Testing and Individual Differences

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Testing and Individual Differences

• Modules 30-32

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Measuring Individual Differences

• Psychology relies heavily on testing individuals,
  it is part of the foundation for psychological
  analysis. To be effective, however, strict
  guidelines must be followed.
• Validity Does the test actually measure what we
  say it does/what we want it to?
• Ex. Reading on a math test
• Face validity Does the test look like it tests
  what it is supposed to test?
• Content validity Each part of the test is
  representative of the larger body of knowledge.

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Measuring Individual Differences

• Criterion Validity The behavior (such as college
  grades) that a test (such as the SAT) is designed
  to predict
• Predictive Validity The success with which a
  test predicts the behavior it is designed to
  predict.

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Assessing Intelligence

• As the range of data under consideration narrows,
  its predictive power diminishes

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Measuring Individual Differences

• The second part of a credible test is
  reliability.
• Reliability A test yields the same results over
  time
• Test-Retest or Split-Half Reliability

Reliable, but not valid
Not reliable, not valid
Reliable and valid
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Creating Validity and Reliability

• The most efficient way to create validity and
  reliability is to use a standardized test.
• In the most basic sense, a standardized test
  means
• The administration and scoring is the same for
  each test
• The results of the test can be used to draw a
  conclusion about the test takers in regard to the
  objectives of the test.
• Ex. AP test, S.A.T.

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Judging Normal

• A normal curve is applied to test to determine
  establish norms. When a statistically
  significant sample of the population has been
  tested, strong conclusions can be drawn.
• A normal range for IQ scores is 70-130. Scores
  below 70 indicate mental retardation while scores
  above 130 are considered gifted.

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Normal Distribution of IQ Scores
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Degrees of Mental Retardation
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Types of Tests

• There are two main types of tests
• Objective Tests Tests that have one set answer,
  that can be scored easily by machine
• Ex. Multiple choice
• Subjective Tests Tests in which individuals are
  given ambiguous figures or an open ended question
  which requires some interpretation and analysis.
• Ex. FRQs
• Inter-rater reliability

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Sample Subjective Test

• The Rorschach Inkblot Test is one of the most
  widely known, and inaccurate subjective tests.
• The following slides are real inkblots from the
  test that was, at one time, a widely used test.
  Today, it has lost much, if not all of its
  credibility in determining intelligence or mental
  illness.

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Intelligence Testing

• A term that is used frequently, but often
  misunderstood is intelligence. What exactly is
  intelligence?
• Many people disagree about what exactly
  intelligence is, but most do agree that it is
• Relative defined in relation to the same
  abilities in a comparison group (usually age)
• Hypothetically constructed it is unobservable,
  but instead inferred from behavior

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Testing IQ

• IQ (intelligence quotient) became a popular way
  to classify people in the early 1900s when two
  French psychologists (Alfred Binet and Theodore
  Simon) developed a test to identify those
  students who were gifted, and those who needed
  extra help.

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Binet-SimonTest

• The test had four important distinctions
• Scores were interpreted at their current
  performance
• Used to identify students in need of help, not
  label them or categorize them
• Emphasized that training and opportunity could
  affect intelligence
• Was empirically constructed
• Scoring the test was done by calculating the
  mental age (MA) and the chronological age (CA).
• MA The average age at which normal individuals
  achieve a particular score
• CA The number of years since an individuals
  birth

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Coming to America

• The idea of IQ testing became popular in America
  for three reasons
• A huge increase in immigration
• New laws requiring universal education
• Military assessing new recruits for WWI
• It created an inexpensive and objective way to
  separate those could benefit from education or
  military leadership training and those who needed
  assistance.

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Downside of IQ Testing

• Despite its utility, IQ testing had a big
  downside. Tests ended up reinforcing prevailing
  prejudices about race and gender.
• Ignored was the fact that environmental
  disadvantages limit the full development of
  peoples intellectual abilities.

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Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

• When the Binet test was adopted by a Stanford
  professor, he changed the equation to make
  intelligence scores into non-decimal numbers.
  This now became known as the Intelligence
  Quotient (IQ).

IQ
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Components of Intelligence

• Savant Syndrome Individuals with remarkable, but
  rare talent, even though they are mentally
  deficient in other areas.
• Ex. Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man

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Theories of Intelligence

• Spearmans g Factor Charles Spearman thought
  intelligence was a general factor behind all of
  our mental ability.
• Sternbergs Triarchic Theory (CAP)
• Catells Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence
• The g factor

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Theories of Intelligence

• Howard Gardner believed that IQ scores measured
  only a limited range of human mental abilities.
  He argued we have seven separate mental abilities
  he calls the multiple intelligences.
• Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
• Logical-mathematical intelligence
  ("number/reasoning smart")
• Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
• Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
• Musical intelligence ("music smart")
• Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
• Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")

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