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Block 3 Unit 1 Measures of Intelligence and Conceptual Thinking

1) Trace the history of intelligence assessment.

The assessment of intelligence began with Sir Francis Galton in England (1883), who believed intelligence was linked to sensory abilities. He developed tests measuring sensory, motor, and reaction times. 

Alfred Binet in France, with the assistance of Henri, created the first 'real' intelligence test in 1905, designed to identify children with intellectual disabilities. Binet conceptualised intelligence as encompassing memory, judgment, reasoning, and social comprehension. 

Later, Lewis Terman at Stanford revised Binet’s test, creating the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which became widely used. The development of intelligence tests was spurred by the need to classify children for educational purposes.

2) What are some of the different tests used to measure IQ and how are they similar and different?

Several tests are used to measure IQ, including:

• Wechsler Scales: These include the WAIS (for adults), WISC (for children), and WPPSI (for preschool children). These tests provide verbal and performance scores, as well as a full-scale IQ. They are individually administered and widely used.
• Stanford-Binet Scales: This test measures intelligence across a wide variety of tasks, using a well-developed theory of intelligence. It is an adaptive test, adjusting to the individual's abilities.
• Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC): This test is based on neuropsychological theory and includes measures of sequential and simultaneous processing. It is less verbally dependent than the Wechsler or Stanford-Binet scales.
• Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery: This battery assesses cognitive abilities and achievement.
• Raven's Progressive Matrices: This test is designed to be culture-reduced and assesses abstract reasoning through visual patterns.

These tests vary in their theoretical underpinnings, age ranges, subtests, and scoring methods. Some are individually administered, while others can be given in groups.

3) Describe Wechsler Scales.

The Wechsler scales are a series of individually administered intelligence tests developed by David Wechsler. They include:

• WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) for adults.
• WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) for school-aged children.
• WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) for preschool-aged children.

These scales provide a Full Scale IQ, as well as Verbal and Performance IQ scores. They also yield subtest scores that reflect various cognitive abilities. The scales are standardized with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15 for IQ scores, and a mean of 10 and standard deviation of 3 for subtest scores.

4) Elucidate Wechsler scale for children.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is used for children aged 6 to 16. The current version is the WISC-IV. It includes verbal and nonverbal subscales and provides a Full Scale IQ as well as index scores for:

• Verbal Comprehension.
• Perceptual Reasoning.
• Working Memory.
• Processing Speed. The questions are simpler than those on the WAIS, as they were developed for children. The subtests are designed to reflect different areas of intellectual functioning.

5) What are the important features of Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence.

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) is used for children aged 2 to 7. The current version is the WPPSI-III. It provides:

• Verbal IQ.
• Performance IQ.
• Processing Speed IQ.
• Full Scale IQ.

Like other Wechsler scales, IQ scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. The test uses game-like tasks to engage young children.

6) Describe WAIS III and WAIS IV.

• WAIS-III (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition): Consists of seven verbal and seven performance subtests. Provides Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and Full-Scale IQ. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to administer. It also provides scores for four indices: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Working Memory, and Processing Speed.
• WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition): The current version of the test, used for individuals aged 16 to 90. It includes four index scores, similar to the WAIS-III: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed. It is standardised on a sample of 2200 people in the US and 688 Canadians.

7) What is Stanford Binet scales and what are their characteristics?

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is a widely used measure of general intelligence, particularly for children and young adults. Key characteristics include:

• It is an adaptive test; the difficulty level of the tasks is adjusted to the individual's abilities.
• It samples a wide variety of tasks involving information processing.
• It is based on a well-developed theory of intelligence.
• It uses routing tests to determine the appropriate testing level for each examinee.
• It provides scores on ten subscales, as well as composite scores for Full Scale, Verbal, and Nonverbal IQ.

8) Discuss the administration and scoring of Stanford Binet scale.

The Stanford-Binet is administered individually. The examiner estimates the examinee's mental age to determine the appropriate level of testing. The test uses routing tests to determine the appropriate starting point. Subtests are composed of groups of items of increasing difficulty. An examinee may only respond to some of the items on each subtest. It provides subscale scores (mean of 10, standard deviation of 3) and composite scores (mean of 100, standard deviation of 15), which is similar to other major tests.

9) Elucidate Woodcock Johnson Psycho educational battery.

The Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery is a set of tests assessing cognitive abilities and achievement. It is used to evaluate learning disabilities, and includes measures of both aptitude and achievement. The current version is the third edition (WJ-III).

10) Describe Raven's Progressive Matrices.

Raven’s Progressive Matrices are a culture-reduced test of abstract reasoning that uses visual patterns. It is made up of simple pictorial analogies. It is a widely used test of nonverbal intelligence.

11) How are Kaufman Assessment Battery for children different from Kaufman adolescent and adult intelligence test?

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC-II) is used for children aged 3 to 13. It measures sequential and simultaneous processing. It also has measures of learning and planning abilities, and crystallized knowledge. It is less verbally dependent than Wechsler or Stanford-Binet scales.

The Kaufman Adolescent and Adult Intelligence Test (KAIT) is for individuals aged 11 to over 85. It measures fluid and crystallized intelligence. It also measures delayed recall of information.

12) Describe Differential Abilities Scales.

The Differential Ability Scales (DAS) are a set of tests used to assess cognitive abilities. They provide a profile of different abilities, rather than a single IQ score. It is one of the tests that clinicians can choose from when selecting a test based on theory.

13) What is cognitive assessment system?

The Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) is a test of cognitive development. It assesses planning, attention, simultaneous, and successive processing skills (PASS).

14) Will an IQ score obtained at age 5 be the same as an IQ score obtained at age 40 for the same person? Why or why not?

No, an IQ score obtained at age 5 is not likely to be the same as an IQ score obtained at age 40 for the same person. IQ scores are an index of current functioning and can change over time. Scores obtained when a child is very young are less stable than scores obtained when a child is older. Factors such as stress, nutrition, educational opportunities, exposure to toxins, and illness can all influence IQ scores.

15) Discuss the controversies surrounding IQ testing.

Controversies surrounding IQ testing include:

• Whether IQ is innate or determined by environment.
• Whether IQ scores are stable over time.
• Whether IQ tests are biased against certain groups.
• Whether IQ tests accurately measure intelligence or a set of specific skills.
• Whether the term "intelligence quotient" or "IQ" should be eliminated.

16) What are the future prospects of IQ testing?

Future prospects of IQ testing include:

• More emphasis on linking theory to assessment.
• Continued efforts to improve existing measures.
• Development of tests based on respected theories of intelligence.
• Tests embracing theory and linking it to clinical relevance.
• Greater use of standard scores that describe specific skills.

These tests should be powerful psychometric tools that have a solid research history and that are clinically and neuropsychologically relevant.

Important Points