Preview

Intellectual Power

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
637 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Intellectual Power
Intellectual Power: How it is Measured, and its Effect on Learning

Intellectual Power: How it is Measured, and its Effect on Learning
Intellectual power, brainpower and mental capacity can all be defined as intelligence. According to The Developing Child, intelligence is a set of abilities defined in various ways by different psychologists but generally agreed to include the ability to reason abstractly, the ability to profit from experience, and the ability to adapt to varying environmental contexts (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p.167). Basically, intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
The first modern intelligence measuring tests where created over one hundred years ago. These tests where designed to incorporate the same tasks the children were performing in school; math, reading comprehension, vocabulary etc. The results of these tests identified children who may have had some problems or difficulties in school (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p.167).
Since that period, the measuring of intelligence has drastically changed. The most widely accepted method of assessing intellectual power is a standardized test called the intelligent quotient, or IQ test. The IQ test is a performance test that ranks an individual’s intelligence based on a score generated from tests results. This score compares the individual to his or her peers. For children, the test scores are compared to his or her counterparts of the same chronological age group (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p.167).
Another type of intelligence testing is achievement testing. These types of tests assess what a child has been taught and learned in school. It is based on specific material such as vocabulary or algebra. Just like the IQ test, it is also a test based on performance (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p.171).
Intelligence testing has been amongst the most controversial topics in psychology and other professional arenas such as education as well as amongst the general public



References: Bee, H. & Boyd, D. (2012). The Developing Child (13th Edition). Pearson Education Inc. Gardner,  H.  (1993a).  Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences /10th Anniversary Edition. New York: Basic Books. Retrieved from: http://www.intime.uni.edu/model/teacher/teac1summary.html Gottfredson L. & Saklofske D. (2009). Intelligence: Foundations and Issues in Assessment. Canadian Psychology © 2009 Canadian Psychological Association. Vol. 50, No. 3, 183–195

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Psyc112 Study Notes

    • 3005 Words
    • 13 Pages

    * Verbal reasoning, quantitative (mathematical) reasoning, visual reasoning, short term memory and paper/pencil intelligence tests…

    • 3005 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Com/155 Week 6 Dq

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages

    • Teachers and parents are concerned with whether standardized tests are a good indicator of a child's intelligence.…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Nt1310 Unit 1 Term Paper

    • 4989 Words
    • 20 Pages

    For decades, a lot of emphases have been put on certain aspects of intelligence such as logical reasoning, math skills, spatial skills, understanding analogies, verbal skills, etc. Researchers were puzzled that while IQ could predict to a significant degree of academic performance and to some degree, professional and personal success, there was something missing in the…

    • 4989 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    What is intelligence? How can it be defined, when it seems to be an individualistic characteristic? These are just a couple of questions in the debate over intelligence. The biggest misconception about intelligence is that it can be measured through an IQ test. While IQ tests are valuable pieces of information to have, they can’t specifically measure intelligence solely. Adam Hampshire, a PhD, psychologist, at the Brain and Mind Institute Natural Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada says, “There are multiple types of intelligence, and It is time to move on to using a more comprehensive set of tests that can measure separate scores for each type of intelligence” (Mann, 2012). His belief is that tests that measure these different types of intelligence should be used in making the determination of intelligence, because in one area of the brain and individual may show intelligence, but in another they may not, so the confusion becomes, are they intelligent or not (Mann, 2012)?…

    • 1293 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Intelligence is an intrapersonal phenomenon, that is inside a person and it is generally agreed that the nature of this energy is unknown. Nevertheless, it may be known by its mental products (Groth-Marnet, 1997; Wechsler, 1939). Because there are many different ways to be intelligent there have also been many different definitions proposed (see Neiser, et al., 1996 for summary). A consensus on what constitutes intelligence is generally lacking. Alfred Binet (1908), the author of one of the first modern intelligence tests, defined intelligence as the inclination to take and maintain a specific direction, and capacity to adapt to achieve a goal outcome, and the power of autocriticism (Kaplan, & Saccuzzo, 2005). In contrast, David Wechsler, the developer of the Wechsler scales, defined intelligence as the aggregate capacity to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with the environment (Wechsler, 1958 as cited in Kaplin, & Saccuzzo). A review by Sternberg, (2005) of intelligence literature over the past century by psychologists and intelligence experts reveals two…

    • 4122 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Maltby, J., Day, L. and Macaskill, A.. (2010). The Use of Intelligence Tests. In: Personality, Individual Differences and Intelligence. 2nd ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. 308-335.…

    • 3070 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1983 a professor of education at Harvard University, Dr. Howard Gardner, developed the theory of multiple intelligences. This theory states that there are eight different ways in which a person is intelligent. These different forms of intelligence are as follows: linguistic, or word smart; logical-mathematic, or reasoning/numbers smart; spatial, or picture smart; bodily-kinesthetic, or body smart; musical, or music smart; intrapersonal, or self-smart; and naturalist, or nature smart (“Multiple Intelligences” para. 1-2). It is not difficult to pinpoint which of these intelligences standardized testing primarily measures. For students who are not linguistically or mathematically gifted, the tests do not accurately show the students’…

    • 581 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Intellectual Power Paper

    • 1123 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “Intelligence includes the ability to reason abstractly, the ability to profit from experience, and the ability to adapt to varying environmental contexts” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 167). Tests to measure intelligence were first developed in 1905 by Frenchmen, Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon. The purpose of the tests was to measure these abilities to help children who difficulties in school. At that time, the French government began requiring all children to attend school, they wanted to be able to identify those with difficulties. The tests were made to measure skills that children would use in school “including measures of vocabulary, comprehension of facts and relationships, and mathematical and verbal reasoning” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 167). The original tests developed by Binet and Simon were revised in 1916 and 1937 by Lewis Terman while at Stanford University. He wanted to revise the tests for children in the United States, and they were termed the Stanford-Binet tests. There were six different tests for different ages. When taking the test, the child would take the individual tests designed by age until he reached a test that he could not complete. A formula was used to determine the Intelligence Quotient (as known as IQ) of the child based on their scores. Binet and Simon compared the children’s actual chronological age to their “mental age” defined as “the age level of IQ test terms a child could successfully answer” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 168). There have been revisions over the years in how IQ scores are calculated and today they are calculated by comparing a child’s score with that of children of the same age. There has been a need for changes in computing IQ scores because IQ scores have increased gradually over the last five decades. If a child today were to take the tests given in the early 1930s, he would score higher than the average of 100.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This paper will cover the historical significance of the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale. This scale was originally called the Binet-Simon scale. Albert Binet and Theodore Simon together created this scale. This scale was originally created for children. Intelligence testing became significant in the 21st century as it enabled mainly schools to seek out children who need academic help. However, this test was taken a step further in the 21st century by major corporations who use the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale as a major tool during the hiring process and to determine a person’s IQ.…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Child Psychology

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Alfred Binet intelligence test measured skills such as comprehension, judgement, reasoning and problem solving. Alfred Binet used a simple formula to give each child a score. He distinguished chronological age from mental age, which is worked out from the number of correct answers given in the subtests. To be useful IQ test scores must be reliable and valid. Test scores are reliable when they can be reproduced and are consistent. IQ test scores can be unreliable for a number of reasons. For example there might be confusing test items that could mean different things to different people. IQ tests may be too short and they do not sample adequately the abilities that we are attempting to test.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of mind : the theory of multiple intelligences. New York, NY : BasicBooks. xxxii, 440 p.…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    General Psychology

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages

    An intelligence test is a test designed to determine the relative mental capacity of a person, standardized tests are used to establish an intelligence level rating by measuring a student’s ability to form concepts, solve problems, acquire information, reason, and perform other intellectual operations. “Although intelligence, like thinking, cannot be directly seen or touched, psychologists tie the concept to achievements such as school performance and occupational status” (Rathus, 174).…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1.Traditionally, people have defined (and standardized tests have assessed) someone who is intelligent as an individual who can solve problems, use logic to answer questions, and think critically. But psychologist Howard Gardner has a much broader definition of intelligence. Compare the traditional idea about intelligence with Gardner's. Are there advantages to the traditional format of intelligence testing? How can Gardner’s ideas change the way we assess the strengths and weaknesses of people?…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Intelligence can be measured with the IQ test (intelligence quotient). It attempts to measure a person´s intelligence by using a set of standardized questions in number of subjects, including mathematics, language and reasoning involving drawings and shapes. Contrary to what people belief intelligence tests do not measure the amount of knowledge a person has already attained, it measures a person´s ability to learn, reason and make judgments. Despite we have tests that measure the intelligence this test do not assure success in life, in work, ability to solve problems.…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Could these tests possibly be biased? Maybe. What is more important, I believe, is that we can all agree that intelligence is multifaceted. Intelligence is also relative and, ever changing as we continue to learn new things. Intelligence experts may never agree on a formal definition of intelligence or how to measure it. It is one of those "is it…

    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays