Christine M. Gaudet Professor: East, Carleah General Psychology 1012 (Sec.

2601) Due: 09 FEB 2013 Discussion Forum Post: Chapter 7 Content

INSTRUCTIONS: This discussion forum activity includes two parts. First, you will describe your reaction to the Pros and Cons of Intelligence Testing video clip by responding to three questions. Next, you will explore the extent to which intelligence tests may be influenced by social and cultural factors. Part 1: Reaction to Video After viewing the Pros and Cons of Intelligence Testing video clip, describe your reaction to the use of intelligence testing by posting your responses to the following questions. Part 2: Culture and Intelligence Tests Read pages 288 - 289 in your textbook.

Based on evidence presented in your readings and activities in the Intelligence folder under "Read and Review," please respond to the following questions.

PART 1: Reaction to Video

Q1: A:

What do you see as positive uses for these tests? The usefulness that these tests may have is to rank one person against another in an

environment where there are like-minded individuals, when distinction is required. In a workplace, for instance, it may be necessary to utilize tests like these in order to offer promotions or raises.

Q2:

What about the use of these tests do you see as potential discrimination against racial or

ethnic groups? A: If there are hiccups or difficulties in the understanding of expressions, verbiage or

vernacular used within the tests themselves, there are likely to be individuals with language barriers whom may have done very well, had it been written in a language or dialect in which

they can relate. Though, even if translated into another language, there are many languages and dialects that do not share a direct translation for many words, and the meaning may be lost or skewed.

Q3:

In your opinion, can one intelligence test really define a person's intelligence and

potential? Explain your response. A: Personally, Im of the opinion that there is no single intelligence test that can accurately

define a persons level of intellect or their potentiality. Many factors can come into play that can cause someone to test differently from one test to the next, or even on the same kind of test. If an individual doesnt have their routine coffee, he or she may not do so well if they neglected to the morning of their test, for example. Lack of sleep plays a huge role in performance. In addition, if one wanted to get the most accurate gauge of where they stand, it only seems logical to take a myriad of tests to get an average score; the higher amount of test over a period of time, the more exact the average would be.

===== PART 2: Culture and Intelligence Tests

Q1:

Do social and cultural factors affect performance on intelligence tests? Explain your

opinion based on your readings. A: Most definitely, being of a different cultural or social background can persuade how

much advantage one group of people has over another. As explained in the textbook, there are so many factors that play part in how one person performs on an intelligence in comparison to

someone else, who for instance may be puzzled or confused by verbiage or the syntax being used.

Q2: A:

Define cultural bias in terms of intelligence tests. Regarding levels of intelligence, bias that can be deemed as cultural include the belief

bias effect, confirmation bias, the overestimation effect, and language blocks. Language differences that exist include its generativity (Hickok & others, 2001; Lubbadeh, 2005), syntax and displacement, any of which can throw someone off whos not of the culture of the written test.

Q3:

Do you believe that these tests do in fact discriminate unfairly against specific ethnic and

racial groups? Explain your opinion based on your readings. A: It can be viewed as an unfair advantage to those whom have not been exposed to such

experiences due to their cultural background, as a whole. But to say that it aims at any one specific group of people or those of a particular ethnic background seems like reaching to me. There are many cultures that may be affected by misunderstanding, but I dont feel that any one collective has the spotlight shining on them, in that sense.

Q4:

Do you feel that we place too much emphasis on these tests to predict success? Explain

your opinion based on your readings. A: The amount of emphasis that is placed, in todays society, on these types of tests is not

excessive, no. Most commonly, in my own experience, intelligence tests are primarily mentioned or brought up in conversation for entertainment and amusement purposes. Mainly those that I

have heard bring the topic of intelligence tests into general conversation, tend to be individuals that I feel have a seemingly high level of intellect ability themselves. These same people toy around with their friends in a competitive sense, to discuss or determine which of them holds the title as the overall smartest individual in the group.