copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 11 testing and individual differences
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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Chapter 11Chapter 11
Testing and Individual Differences
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
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 MeasureHow Do We MeasureIndividual Differences?Individual Differences?
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Validity and ReliabilityValidity and Reliability
Validity –A property exhibited by a test that measures what it purports to measure.• Face validity• Content validity• Criterion validity
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ValidityValidity
Face validity• Measures whether a test looks like it tests
what it is supposed to test.
Content validity• Each item is representative of the larger body
of knowledge about the subject that the test covers.
Criterion validity• Accurately measures performance of the test
taker against a specific learning goal.
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Validity and ReliabilityValidity and Reliability
Reliability – A property exhibited by a test that yields the same results over time.• Test-retest reliability• Split-half reliability• Inter-rater reliability
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ReliabilityReliability
Test-retest reliability• People get about the same scores when they
take the test more than once.
Split-half reliability• A test is split into 2 parts and an individual’s
scores on both halves are compared.
Inter-rater reliability• A measure of how similarly two different test
scorers would score a test.
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Standardization and NormsStandardization and Norms
Normal range Scores falling near the middle of a normal distribution.
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The Normal Distribution of IQ ScoresThe Normal Distribution of IQ Scores
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200100
Few
Many
Num
ber
of P
erso
ns
IQ
Nor
mal
Ran
ge
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Types of TestsTypes 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.
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Ethics and Standards in TestingEthics 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
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How is IntelligenceHow is IntelligenceMeasured?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.
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How is IntelligenceHow is IntelligenceMeasured?Measured?
Intelligence quotient (IQ) –A numerical score on an intelligence test, originally computed by dividing a person’s mental age by chronological age and multiplying by 100.
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How to Calculate IQHow to Calculate IQ
IQ = x 100Chronological Age
Mental Age
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How is IntelligenceHow is IntelligenceMeasured?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 school children.
• The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is the most respected of the new American tests of intelligence.
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How is IntelligenceHow is IntelligenceMeasured?Measured?
• Wechsler tests• Measure a variety of different skills (vocab,
verbal comprehension, arithmetic ability, similarities, block design, etc.)
• WAIS – Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale• WISC – Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children• WPPSI – Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale
of Intelligence
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What Are the ComponentsWhat Are the Componentsof Intelligence?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.
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Theories of IntelligenceTheories of Intelligence
• Charles Spearman
g Factor
• A general ability, proposed by Spearman as the main factor underlying all intelligent mental activity.
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Theories of IntelligenceTheories of Intelligence
• Raymond Cattell
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.
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Robert Sternberg’sRobert Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory Triarchic Theory
Practical Practical IntelligenceIntelligence
Analytical Analytical IntelligenceIntelligence
Creative Creative IntelligenceIntelligence
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Sternberg’s Triarchic TheorySternberg’s Triarchic Theory
Ability to cope with the environment; “street smarts”
Practical Practical IntelligenceIntelligence
Analytical Intelligence
Creative Intelligence
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Sternberg’s Triarchic TheorySternberg’s Triarchic Theory
Ability to analyze problems and find correct answers; ability measured by most IQ tests
also called logical reasoning
Practical Intelligence
Analytical Analytical IntelligenceIntelligence
Creative Intelligence
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Sternberg’s Triarchic TheorySternberg’s Triarchic Theory
Form of intelligence that helps people see new relationships among concepts; involves insight and creativity
Practical Intelligence
Analytical Intelligence
Creative Creative IntelligenceIntelligence
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Howard Gardner’sHoward Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Multiple Intelligences
LinguisticLinguistic
Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical
SpatialSpatial
MusicalMusical
Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic
InterpersonalInterpersonal
IntrapersonalIntrapersonal
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
LinguisticLinguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Often measured on IQ tests with reading comprehension and vocabulary tests
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Often measured on IQ tests with analogies, math problems and logic problems
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
SpatialSpatial
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Ability to form mental images of objects and think about their relationships in space
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Spatial
MusicalMusical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Ability to perceive and create patterns of rhythms and pitches
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Ability for controlled movement and coordination
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
InterpersonalInterpersonal
Intrapersonal
Ability to understand other people’s emotions, motives and actions
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Gardner’s Multiple IntelligencesGardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Spatial
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
IntrapersonalIntrapersonal
Ability to know oneself and to develop a sense of identity
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Gardner’s Three New IntelligencesGardner’s Three New Intelligences
• Naturalistic intelligence- Allows people to classify things as
members of diverse groups.
• Spiritual intelligence- The ability to think in abstract spiritual terms
and to put oneself in a spiritual frame of mind.
• Existential intelligence- Permits individuals to think about the purpose of
existence and the meaning of things like death and love.
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How Do Psychologists How Do Psychologists Explain IQ DifferencesExplain IQ Differences
Among Groups?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.
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How Do Psychologists Explain IQ How Do Psychologists Explain IQ Differences Among Groups?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
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Heritability and Group DifferencesHeritability and Group Differences
Heritability – Amount of trait variation within a group, raised under the same conditions, that can be attributed to genetic differences.
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Heritability and Group DifferencesHeritability 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.
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End of Chapter 11End of Chapter 11