Mangampat, Danica Mae L.

June 13, 2016

Individual Assessment / 11582170

Intelligence
Through the years, intelligence has been given a lot of definitions. This includes
a persons capacity for logic, abstract reasoning, understanding, learning, emotional
knowledge and many more. According to Boring (1929), intelligence pertains to the
abilities that are evaluated by intelligence tests. However, these intelligence tests are
rather always fluid than in a stable state (Sparrow & Davis, 2000). Despite its fluidity, it
has been very useful in a lot of field and setting, including military, education, medicine
and industrial management.
The study and improvement of intelligence involved a lot of aspects of
Psychology and other sciences. There is a continuing emergence of information, like
how it develops and factors that influence it (Saklofske & Patterson, 2009). It was
established that indeed, it is a product of both nature and nurture. The Wechsler scales
were the first intelligence tests to base scores on a standardized normal distribution, on
the other hand, the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test formed the basis for one of the
modern intelligence tests that psychologists still use today. To this day, the IQ tests,
remains popular and convenient. Existing research continues to claim that intelligence is
one of the most important predictors of a wide range of human behavior. However,
Gottfredson & Saklofske (2009) reiterates that it is also important that to fully
understand a human being, one must see interactive models which would require mixed
methods approach to assessment of multiple individual differences and end up with a

more comprehensive and integrated description of a person. To maximize validity,

authors suggested that a multimethod assessment must be made (Gottfredson &
Saklofske, 2009). Nevertheless, intelligence scales still have its limitations. One of the
articles mentioned, abilities versus achievement and constructs versus measures
(Gottfredson & Saklofske, 2009). Another thing that affects an intelligence validity are
the items in the test that grew old, this means the test will require revision. Another
comes the environment and culture bias such as differences in language and education
type. Over the years, there is an effort on putting intelligence and intelligence tests into
historical, theoretical and evidence-based framework that aims to make it more
applicable and valid to clients (Gottfredson & Saklofske, 2009). Both researchers and
practitioners in the field continues to to produce new information about intelligence and
cognition and that will guide us in assessment and how we assess intelligence.
In the documentary by BBC, Battle of the Brains, it discussed how intelligence
must be measured. And according to the documentary, most psychologists would agree
that IQ tests only tells half of the story. There are many types of intelligence beyond IQ,
and while it many claim that an IQ test can tell how intelligent we are, this only goes to
show that we been missing different kinds of talented and intelligent people in the field
just because of purely basing ones potential on an IQ test.
Source:
Boundless. History of Intelligence Testing. Boundless Psychology. Boundless, 26 May.
2016. Retrieved 13 Jun. 2016 from
https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-

textbook/intelligence-11/measuring-intelligence-62/history-of-intelligence-testing239-12774/
Gottfredson, L., & Saklofske, D. H. (2009). Intelligence: Foundations and Issues in
Assesment. Canadian Psychology, 50(3), 183-195.

Davis, S., & Sparrow, S. S. (2000). Recent advances in the assessment of intelligence
and cognition. J. Child Psychol. Psychiat, 41(1), 117-131.