There were many similarities between the different IQ tests we looked at in class today. Every intelligence test had some method for testing a person's vocabulary, sequential knowledge and verbal comprehension. Most tests also involved the participant looking at pictures and trying to identify the object. Even though we thought the tests were simple they could very easily become biased. If the person giving the test had an accent or put more emphasis on the right answer the person taking the test could have a better chance of getting the answer right or wrong. Also the pictures could be images that not everyone is has seen before in their daily lives, especially if they were from a different country.
I think that in society today IQ tests are used mostly to identify children with learning disabilities or "geniuses." The average person is not likely to take an intelligence test. I think that the questions asked on an intelligence test might not capture a person's full intelligence. For example a person might not do well on the verbal section of an IQ test but could be very smart in science. Therefore, the test would not be able to measure the person's entire intelligence.
Laura, I agree with you about the tests becoming easily biased. In our small group we all agreed that how the test is read can have a major impact how a person answers. Little things like that can change the difficulty of the test rather quickly and are something important to keep in mind as an instructor giving the test!
ReplyDeleteI agree as well Laura, IQ tests will always be biased either because of the intention of measurement or because of how the questions are asked. Test questions should be clear and concise when being told, and a true IQ test should measure the full extent of someone's intellectual abilities, but we all know that a test can't capture all of our intellectual abilities! :)
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