Testing Intelligence

Rekial Holloway

PSY/201

Testing Intelligence

March 13, 2011

1) Did you feel the results were accurate?

No, I do not feel that my IQ results were accurate. The reason for this is because, of the age adjustment factor, in which is indicated before my score. My feelings are that, intelligence is ageless. For ex: Consider a young person without the benefit of higher education, or life experiences. Then, the test would perhaps not accurately gauge their intellect. However, the questions that were asked could indicate different angles of assessing intelligence.

2) Was the test biased in any way?

Yes, in my opinion, I feel that the IQ test was biased. IQ tests are culturally biased since they show differences between minority groups. According to Richard Niolon, Ph.D. When you look at mean score differences between groups on the WISC R, there may be real differences, especially when SES convolutes the data. Some recall studies that African Americans score 15 points lower on IQ tests that Caucasians, but when SES is controlled this drops to 5 points or less. This is to say that being poor or rich may have more of an impact on your IQ and perhaps intelligence (whatever that is) than your ethnicity. I will say that, other efforts look at predictive validity. Most IQ tests predict performance on achievement tests very well. But, if achievement tests are biased too, then we would expect high predictive validity and this wouldn't rule out bias. However, some argue that if our culture does value some skills over others, then the test is still an accurate predictor of a person's ability to succeed in our culture. Thus, IQ and achievement tests could be culturally biased and heavily so, but their reflection of the dominant culture's values is desirable.

3) How do you feel about these types of scores being used to compare you...