Question

Write the features of individual tests of intelligence in your own words.

Answer 1

Intelligence tests that can be administered to a single individual at a time are called individual tests of intelligence. Binet’s Scale of Intelligence, Wechsler Scale of Intelligence, Dr. Bhatia’s Performance Test of Intelligence, Arthur Point Scale, Koh’s Block Design, etc. are some of the examples of individual tests of intelligence.

Some characteristics of IQ tests are followed:

1. Validity: It is a test’s ability to measure what it is supposed to measure. Although intelligence tests cannot be considered good measures of general intelligence or general mental ability, they are reasonably valid indicators of the type of intelligence that enables good academic performance.

2. Standardization: Intelligence tests are Standardized, which means that uniform procedures are used when administering and scoring the tests. Standardization helps to ensure that people taking a particular test all do so under the same conditions. Standardization also allows test-takers to be compared since it increases the likelihood that any difference in scores between test-takers is due to ability rather than the testing environment. The SAT and ACT are two examples of standardized tests.

3. Norms and Percentile Scores: Researchers use norms when scoring the tests. Norms provide information about how a person’s test score compares with the scores of other test takers. Norms allow raw test scores to be converted into percentile scores. A Percentile Score indicates the percentage of people who achieved the same as or less than a particular score. For example, if someone answered twenty items correctly on a thirty-item vocabulary test, he receives a raw score of 20. He consults the test norms and finds that a raw score of 20 corresponds with a percentile score of 90. This means that he scored the same as or higher than 90 percent of people who took the same test.

4. Reliability: Most intelligence tests have good reliability. Reliability is a test’s ability to yield the same results when the test is administered at different times to the same group of people.