Question

Answer the following question in detail:

'Intelligence testing has a wide usage in various areas'. Justify with examples.

Answer 1

David Wechsler defines intelligence as, 'the aggregate or global capacity of an individual to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment.'

Types of Intelligence Tests

1. Individual tests of intelligence - Individual tests of intelligence are tests that can be administered to a single person at a time, for e.g., Stanford Binet Scales, WAIS, Koh's Block Design Test, etc.
2. Group tests of intelligence - Group tests of intelligence are tests that can be administered to more than one person at a time, i.e., for mass testing, for e.g., Army Alpha and Army Beta Test, OTIS self-administrating tests, etc.
3. Verbal tests of intelligence - Verbal tests of intelligence make use of words and numbers to measure intelligence and subjects respond verbally to the test items, for e.g., WAIS, Army Alpha Test, etc.
4. Non-verbal tests of intelligence -
   Non-verbal tests of intelligence do not use language to measure intelligence. They make use of pictures, designs, objects, etc. Such tests may be (i) Performance tests, e.g., Koh's Block Design Test or (ii) Paper-pencil test e.g., Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices.

Application of Intelligence Testing

1. Effective Schooling - On the basis of intelligence test scores, teachers can classify students into intellectual categories and devise special instructional programmes suited to their mental development.
2. Aids Mental Health Personnel - Intelligence tests are helpful to Mental Health personnel such as psychologists, etc., for diagnosis purposes and therapy.
3. Effective Parenting- Parents can provide appropriate educational facilities to their children based on their IQ scores.
4. Career Counselling- Scores obtained on intelligence tests help the student to select the right educational options/ courses.
5. Vocational Counselling-Individuals can choose a suitable career and achieve job satisfaction when they make a realistic choice of vocation based on IQ scores.