Intelligence: IQ, IQ tests

The notion of "intelligence coefficient" was introduced by the German psychologist William Stern. He used IQ as an acronym for the term Intelligenz-Quotient - the coefficient of mental development. IQ was a score based on a series of standardized tests conducted under the guidance of a psychologist in order to determine the level of intelligence.

The pioneers of mind research

At first, psychologists doubted that the human mind can be measured, even more accurately. While interest in measuring the intelligence counts thousands of years, the first test for IQ appeared only recently. In 1904, the French government asked the psychologist Alfred Binet to help establish which students are most likely to experience difficulties in school. The need to establish the intellect of schoolchildren arose, so that they all could receive compulsory primary education. Binet asked his colleague Theodor Simon to help him create a test that would focus on practical issues: memory, attention and problem solving - things that children are not taught at school. Some answered more difficult questions than their age group, and therefore, on the basis of observational data, the classical concept of the mental age has now appeared. The result of the work of psychologists - the Binet-Simon scale - was the first standardized IQ test.

By 1916, Stanford University psychologist Lewis Terman adapted the Binet-Simon scale for use in the US. The changed test was called the "Stanford-Binet Intellect Scale" and for several decades became the standard test of intelligence testing in the United States. In Stanford-Binet, a number known as IQ-the intelligence factor-is used to represent the individual result.

How to calculate intelligence?

The IQ was originally determined by dividing the mental age of the person who passed the test, at its chronological age, and multiplying the quotient by 100. It goes without saying that this works (or is best suited) only for children. For example, a child with a mental age of 13.2 years and a chronological 10 years has IQ 132 and has the right to enter Mensu (13.2 ÷ 10 x 100 = 132).

During the First World War, several tests were developed in the United States Army to select new recruits suitable for special types of work. The army test "Alpha" was written, and "Beta" was conducted for illiterate recruits.

This and other IQ tests were also used to test new immigrants arriving in the US from Ellis Island. Their results were used to fabricate false generalizations about the "surprisingly low intelligence" of immigrants from southern Europe and the Jews. These results in 1920 led to the emergence of proposals of the "racially motivated" psychologist Goddard and other Congress to impose restrictions on immigration. Although the tests were conducted in English only, and the overwhelming majority of immigrants did not understand it, the United States government deported many thousands of worthy people who were labeled "unusable" or "undesirable." And it happened in a decade before Nazi Germany started talking about eugenics.

Psychologist David Wexler was dissatisfied, in his opinion, with limited tests Stanford-Binet. The main reason for this was the only evaluation, its emphasis on time limitation, and the fact that the test was designed specifically for children and therefore was not suitable for adults. As a result, during the 1930s, Wexler developed a new test, which was known as the Wexler Intelligence Scale - Bellevue. Subsequently, the test was revised and became known as the Wexler Intelligence Scale for Adults, or WAIS. Instead of one general evaluation, the test created a general picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the subject. One of the advantages of this approach is that it also provides useful information. For example, high scores in some areas and low scores in others indicate the presence of specific learning disabilities.

WAIS became the first test of the psychologist Robert Wexler, and WISC (the scale of intelligence for Wexler's children) and the Wexler's Preschool Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) were developed later. The adult version has since been revised three times: WAIS-R (1981), WAIS III (1997) and in 2008 WAIS-IV.

Unlike tests based on chronological and psychic age scales and standards, as in the case of Stanford-Binet, all versions of WAIS are calculated by comparing the test result with those of other subjects in the same age group. The average IQ score (worldwide) is 100 points with 2/3 of the results in the "normal" range from 85 to 115. WAIS standards have become the standard in IQ testing, and therefore they are using the Eysenck and Stanford-Binet test, except that The standard deviation in it is not 15, but 16. In the Cattell test, the deviation is 23.8 - it often gives a very flattering IQ, which can mislead uninformed people.

High IQ - high intelligence?

The intelligence coefficient for the gifted is determined by means of special tests that provide psychologists with a lot of useful information. For many of them, the average score is fixed at 145-150, and the full range is between 120 and 190. The results below 120 are not calculated, and more than 190 points are very difficult to interpolate, although this is possible.

Paul Koimans from the Netherlands is considered the founder of IQ-tests of the upper range, and he is the creator of most of the original, and now classic, tests of this type. He also founded and administers super-high IQ societies: Glia, Giga and Graal. Among the most famous and popular tests of Koimans are "Test for genius", "Test of Nemesis" and "Test of multiple choice of Koimans". The presence, influence and participation of Paula are mandatory conditions, it is an integral part of the spirit of ultra-high IQ tests and its communities in general. Other classical gurus of tests for high intelligence are Ron Hoefflin, Robert Lato, Laurent Dubois, Mislav Predavets and Jonathon Wye.

There are different types of thinking, which are manifested differently at different levels. People have different skills and intelligence: verbal, type, spatial, conceptual, mathematical. But also there are different ways of their manifestation - logical, lateral, convergent, linear, divergent and even inspired and ingenious.

A standard and elevated IQ test reveals a common intelligence factor; But in high-level tests it is determined in various ways.

Often talk about high IQ scores, which are called IQ geniuses, but what do these numbers actually mean and how do they add up? What is the IQ score is a sign of genius?

• A high IQ is any score higher than 140.
• IQ genius - more than 160.
• Great genius - the score is equal to or exceeds 200 points.

High IQ is directly related to academic progress, but does it influence success in life as a whole? How much geniuses are luckier than people with a lower IQ? Some experts believe that, compared to other factors, including emotional intelligence, the IQ is less important.

Breakdown of IQ points

So how exactly are the IQ estimates interpreted? The average score of the IQ test is 100. 68% of the IQ test results fall within the standard deviation from the mean. This means that most people have an IQ between 85 and 115.

• Up to 24 points: deep dementia.
• 25-39 points: severe mental disability.
• 40-54 points: moderate dementia.
• 55-69 points: easy mental inferiority.
• 70-84 points: borderline mental disorder.
• 85-114 points: the average intellect.
• 115-129 points: the level is above average.
• 130-144 points: moderate giftedness.
• 145-159 points: high endowment.
• 160-179 points: exceptional giftedness.
• More than 179 points: a deep giftedness.

What does IQ mean?

When talking about tests for intelligence, the intelligence factor is called "points of endowment." What are they in the evaluation of IQ? To understand this, it is important first of all to understand the testing in general.

Today's tests to determine the IQ are based primarily on original tests developed in the early 1900s by the French psychologist Alfred Binet to identify students in need of additional help.

Based on his research, Binet developed the concept of mental age. Children of some age groups quickly answered questions that were usually answered by older children - their mental age was superior to the chronological age. Measurements of Binet's intelligence were based on the average abilities of children of a certain age group.

IQ tests are designed to measure a person's ability to solve problems and reason. Evaluation of the intelligence coefficient is a measure of mobile and crystallized mental abilities. Points indicate how well the test was passed compared to other people in this age group.

Understanding IQ

The distribution of IQ estimates corresponds to the Bell curve - a bell-like curve, the peak of which corresponds to the largest number of test results. The bell then descends from each side - on one side are points below the average, and on the other - higher.

The average value is equal to the average score and is calculated by adding all the results and dividing them by the total number of points.

Standard deviation is a measure of variability in a population. A low standard deviation means that most data points are very close to the same value. A high standard deviation indicates that the data points are usually far from the mean. In the IQ test, the standard deviation is 15.

IQ increases

With each generation IQ increases. This phenomenon is called the Flynn effect, named after the explorer Jim Flynn. Since the 1930s, when standardized tests have become widespread, researchers have noted a steady and significant increase in the evaluation of test results in people around the world. Flynn suggested that this increase is due to the improvement of our ability to solve problems, to think abstractly and to use logic.

According to Flynn, past generations have mostly dealt with the specific and specific problems of their immediate surroundings, and modern people are more concerned with abstract and hypothetical situations. Not only that, but the approaches to learning for the last 75 years have changed dramatically, and more people are engaged, as a rule, with mental labor.

What do tests measure?

IQ tests evaluate logic, spatial imagination, verbal-logical thinking and visual abilities. They are not designed to determine knowledge in specific subject areas, since the test for intelligence is not something that you can learn in order to improve your score. Instead, these tests assess the ability to use logic to solve problems, recognize patterns and quickly establish relationships between different information.

Although it is often possible to hear that outstanding personalities, such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, have an IQ of 160 or higher, or some presidential candidates have specific IQs, these numbers are simply estimates. In most cases, there is no evidence that these well-known individuals have ever undergone a standardized IQ test and all the more betrayed its results by publicity.

Why is the average score equal to 100?

Psychometrists use a process known as standardization to compare and interpret IQ score values. This process is carried out by conducting a test on a representative sample using its results to create standards or norms by which individual estimates can be compared. Since the average score is 100, professionals can quickly compare individual scores with the average score to determine if they fall into a normal distribution.

Classification systems can vary from publisher to publisher, although many tend to follow a single rating system. For example, on the scale of intellect of adult Wexler and in the Stanford-Binet test, scores in the range of 85-115 are considered "average".

What exactly do tests evaluate?

Tests to determine the coefficient of intelligence are designed to assess the crystallized and mobile intelligence. Crystallized includes knowledge and skills acquired throughout life, and agile - the ability to reason, solve problems and comprehend abstract information.

Movable intelligence is considered independent of training and tends to decline at a more mature age. Crystallized is directly related to learning and experience and is constantly increasing with time.

The test for intelligence is carried out by licensed psychologists. There are different types of tests, many of them include a number of subtests designed to assess mathematical abilities, language skills, memory, reasoning skills and information processing speed. Their results are then combined, forming a common IQ score.

It is important to note that although there is often talk of an average, low and brilliant IQ, there is no single test for the level of intelligence. Today, many different tests are used, including Stanford-Binet, Wexler's adult intelligence scale , Eysenck's test and Woodcock-Johnson cognition tests. Each of them differs in what exactly and how it is evaluated, and how the results are interpreted.

What is considered a low IQ?

IQ, equal to or below 70 points, is considered low. In the past, such an intelligence factor was considered a standard for mental retardation, intellectual incapacity, characterized by significant cognitive impairment.

Today, however, IQ alone is not used to diagnose intellectual disability. Instead, the criterion for this diagnosis is a low IQ with evidence that these cognitive limitations existed before the age of 18 and concerned two or more adaptive areas such as communication and self-help.

About 2.2% of all people have an IQ score below 70.

So what does it mean to have an average IQ?

The IQ level can be a good general indicator of the ability to reason and solve problems, but many psychologists suggest that tests do not reveal the whole truth.

Among the few things that they can not measure are practical skills and talents. A person with an average IQ can be a great musician, artist, singer or mechanic. Psychologist Howard Gardner has developed a theory of multiple intelligence designed to address this shortcoming.

In addition, the researchers found that IQ can change over time. The study of the intelligence of adolescents with a gap of 4 years gave results whose values varied by 20 points.

IQ tests also do not concern the assessment of curiosity and how well a person understands emotions and owns them. Some experts, including writer Daniel Goleman, suggest that emotional intelligence (EQ) may be even more important than IQ. The researchers found that high IQ can really help people in many areas of life, but the guarantee of success does not work.

So worry about the lack of genius is not worth it, since the vast majority of people are not geniuses. Just as a high IQ level does not guarantee success, an average or low IQ does not guarantee failure or mediocrity. Other factors, such as hard work, perseverance, perseverance and general attitude are important parts of the puzzle.