Intelligence assessment: performance and tests used
The term "intelligence" has multiple definitions, since it can give rise to different conceptions depending on the vision that each student of it has had, so it is not an easy task measure the.
Among the ways of defining intelligence we can highlight the following: capacity for logic, reasoning, understanding processing, learning, creativity, emotional, problem solving, among other.
For the evaluation of intelligence, numerous different tests have been developed, based on the author's conception of this concept, in order to evaluate various aptitudes, knowledge or functions, through different psychometric tests, being generally called as "test of intelligence".
In this article we will talk about the intelligence assessment process and the most used tests in this context.
- Related article: "Theories of human intelligence"
How can an evaluation of the intelligence of a person be carried out?
To evaluate the intelligence of human beings there is no unambiguous methodInstead, multiple types of tests have been developed for this purpose, among which several stand out that we will discuss in this article.
The tests that have been developed with the objective of evaluating intelligence allow measuring more global aspects (for example, verbal comprehension), of so that thanks to this type of tools psychologists can evaluate and know the potential that a person has for learning or other capabilities.
Classification of intelligence assessment instruments
The most common classification of intelligence assessment tests is that which divides them into two large groups: intelligence tests. intelligence evaluation based on the rational methodology and those based on the factorial method, as we will see continuation.
1. Intelligence assessment test based on rational methodology (from a clinical approach)
It is a set of tests for the evaluation of intelligence that have been developed based on of the author's theory that has developed each of the tests that are based on a methodology rational. It should be noted that this type of test is applied individually.
The main precursor of this type of evidence has been Wechsler, who developed his evidence based on Binet's theory. and whose tests are still valid today, being one of the most used in this field of psychology. For Wechsler, intelligence is nothing more than one more component of the personality, and this encompasses a set of aptitudes and abilities that people have to be able to adapt to the environment in which they live.
In addition, the evaluation tests of rational intelligence are usually formed by a set of very diverse tasks, from a way that allows evaluating the various aptitudes and capacities that make up the intelligence of the human being.
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2. Intelligence evaluation test based on factorial methodology
Within this group are those tests for the evaluation of intelligence that have been prepared based on factor analysis.
Among the professionals who developed this type of test to measure intelligence, Spearman stands out, who used the factor analysis for the first time in the early twentieth century in order to know the components of intelligence more important.
This type of testing They are usually applied collectively and are divided into two groups: on the one hand, the g factor tests, which carry out a single measurement (in relation to the g factor) in order to assess the intellectual level; on the other, there are the aptitude tests, which are in charge of evaluating a series of specific abilities that the evaluated person possesses, without evaluating general intelligence.
The factor analysis method tests conceive intelligence as a set of unrelated traits, and not a unitary trait.
- Related article: "Fluid Intelligence and Crystallized Intelligence: what are they?"
Rational intelligence assessment tests
Rational tests are usually based on the theory of the author who developed each of the tests, so each one measures intelligence based on the conception that its author has of the herself. In the following, we will briefly explain some of the most widely used rational tests for the assessment of intelligence.
1. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Assessment Scales
This scale, existing since its first version at the beginning of the 20th century, has evolved into several versions, the 4th and 5th being the most up-to-date.
The 4th version of Stanford-Binet is composed of 15 tests to assess intelligence, divided into 4 areas: short-term memory and abstract-visual, verbal and numerical-quantitative areas. It is a test for people from 2 to 23 years of age and is based on an evaluation based on a hierarchical model to three levels: the G Factor, verbal, quantitative and abstract reasoning and crystallized, fluid-analytical capacities and memory to short term.
The 5th version was developed in order to be able to apply this test for the evaluation of the intelligence of people up to 85 years of age, the other components being similar to those of the earlier version.
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2. Wechsler Intelligence Assessment Scales
These types of tests are probably the most used in this field. There are several versions depending on the age group to be evaluated:
- WPPSI: application age from 2 years and 6 months to 7 years and 7 months (latest version).
- WISC: age of application from 6 years and 11 months to 16 years and 11 months (latest version).
- WAIS: age of application from 16 to 89 years (latest version).
The WPPSI-IV consists of 5 types of tests: cleft key, cancellation, search for animals, location and recognition.
The WISC-V is composed of a total scale that measures verbal, visuospatial comprehension, fluent reasoning, working memory and processing speed; some primary scales, which measure the same components of intelligence as the total scale; finally, the secondary scales, which measure quantitative reasoning, auditory working memory, non-verbal reasoning, general ability and cognitive competence.
The WAIS assesses general intellectual functioning, as well as four indexes: perceptual reasoning, verbal comprehension, processing speed and working memory. This test is made up of 10 main tests and 5 optional ones, the latter being used in any case. necessary to broaden the range of assessed cognitive skills, in order to obtain more information about the subject evaluated.
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3. Kaufman Intelligence Assessment Scales
The Kaufman K-ABC test focuses primarily on the form of processing, so It is a very useful instrument to carry out evaluation tests for children who have some difficulty in learning or communication. These tests can be applied with children from 2 years and 6 months to 12 years and 5 months of age and are composed of 4 scales and 16 subtests.
The K-BIT test is aimed at an older age range (from 4 to 90 years old) and is about of a screening and non-diagnostic test that assesses both verbal and non-verbal intelligence verbal. It also consists of 2 subtests: vocabulary, to measure verbal intelligence, and matrices, to measure non-verbal intelligence.
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Factor tests for the evaluation of intelligence
Factor tests can be divided into two categories: non-verbal and verbal tests. Next, we will look at some tests that exemplify both types of tests.
1. Non-verbal intelligence assessment test
The following tests stand out in this category.
1.1. The Progressive Matrices Test developed by Raven
This is one of the most widely used intelligence assessment tests, the objective of which is to assess the general intelligence of the subjects, being designed to measure the G factor, which also explains 60% of the variance of the test and it is very useful to quickly measure the level of intellectual functioning.
The items in this test are of two types: gestalt behavior, in which the subject must complete a drawing that is incomplete; and the deduction of relationships or analogical reasoning, in which the subject is presented with various alternatives and must choose the correct one.
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1.2. The Cattell G Factor Test
The main characteristic of this intelligence assessment test is that does not require any minimum level of studies or culture (There are 3 versions depending on age and / or cultural level) and which is responsible for the evaluation of the intelligence G factor, explaining 90% of the variability of this test.
These tests contain 4 types of tests: classification, series, matrix and conditions, together providing an overall score. They allow obtaining centile scores and as a result the IQ (intellectual quotient) and mental age are calculated.
- Related article: "Raymond Cattell's Theory of Intelligence"
2. Verbal intelligence assessment test
In this category we find the following instruments.
2.1 IG-2
It is a test that is used to assess intelligence with people who have a low cultural level and measure general crystallized intelligenceTherefore, it assesses verbal comprehension, numerical reasoning and abstraction skills. The tests used in this test are the following: verbal comprehension and speed, reasoning and perceptual precision.
2.2 Simple Otis
This test is used with people who have a medium-low cultural level, in order to assess mental development and their abilities to adapt consistently with their thinking to new adversities. Questions from the common environment are used to carry out the evaluation.