Dr. R.G. Tonks
Activity 1
Intelligence Testing
Review Chapter 10.
This activity will give you an opportunity to
consider the nature of "intelligence" and the testing or measurement of it.
In
doing so, you will need to take a critical perspective on the practice of
intelligence testing.
In this activity you will be taking two "intelligence tests" and considering
the nature of what intelligence is and whether or not we can
accurately measure it.
To begin, click here to go to one of the following website
and take one of the tests.
I recommend that you take https://www.123test.com/culture-fair-intelligence-test/ , scroll down to the bottom for the free test.
(Remember that you should
not feel pressured to divulge personal information or pay for these tests!).
Following your completion of this test answer the following questions:
Did you score how you thought you might? What did you think of the questions?
Based upon these samples of "Intelligence Tests" do you think that it can be assessed appropriately.
It has been pointed out, as on this page that there are cultural biases to intelligence testing.
As we
know about perception and language, our cultural experience shapes the abilities
and mind sets that we use later in life.
Consequently, so called "cultural" or
"racial" differences in intelligence test scores have been determined to be due
to biases
in the questions and measurements. To complete this activity take the
following test
(without looking at the answers) and
reflect back on what you have done that has been called "intelligence" testing.
After you have taken the Chitlin Test
answer these questions (and the ones above) upload
a file with your answers to
both sets of questions in the drop box for Activity 1.
How did you perform on this test?
Given that the
questions come from a culture that I don't expect
you to be experienced in,
what
role do you see that culture and experience plays in the formation
of "intelligence"?
Is it meaningful to measure "Intelligence"?
Here think about the lecture on the nature and measurement of intelligence.
You should also review the points on
critical thinking in psychology and make use of them in providing your critique.