| The belief that IQ tests are the most reliable means | | | | simultaneously with these studies and umpteen |
| of scientifically testing the intelligence and smartness | | | | questions were being thrown open for debate. |
| of a person has always been surrounded by | | | | The Controversies |
| controversial opinions, sparking heated debates. Some | | | | The controversial issues were: What exactly does an |
| have even questioned the so-called scientific basis of | | | | IQ test measure? What exactly is general |
| the popular IQ tests. Many feel that the outcome of | | | | intelligence? Is the test racially biased? Is it a measure |
| such tests is biased and does not reflect the true | | | | of one's acquired genetic intelligence or is it a |
| intelligence of a person that makes him successful in | | | | measure of cultivated intelligence? Do you have to |
| life. A person may score genius grade in the test, but | | | | be a part of some elite family to fair well in these |
| in real life may be a total failure. | | | | tests? And what about the improvement in scores |
| How it all Started? | | | | that comes with familiarity with the tests and |
| Back in 1905, the French psychologist Alfred Binet | | | | practice? Does it mean the person has suddenly |
| decided that he wanted to pinpoint in advance the | | | | become a genius after taking the tests a couple of |
| "slower" students from the rest of the class, so that | | | | times? |
| they could be provided extra attention in school. | | | | Another issue about the validity and the |
| Along with a colleague Theodore Simon, Binet | | | | effectiveness of these tests was that they cover |
| created a scale to measure the intelligence of the | | | | only the left-brain-controlled skills, and no skills |
| students, the Binet-Simon (B-S) Intelligence Scale. | | | | characteristic of right part of the brain, like emotional |
| They revised the B-S scale in 1908 and once again in | | | | intelligence, so very important to for achieving |
| 1911, just before Binet's death. In 1912, a German | | | | success in life. A low IQ person can accomplish great |
| psychologist, William Stern, gave it a new name | | | | things in life through grit, determination; courage and |
| – | | | | love instead of through ability as defined by IQ tests |
| 'Intelligenz-Quotient", the English equivalent being | | | | (remember Tom Hanks in the movie Forest Gump?). |
| Intelligence Quotient or IQ. Lewis Terman, a | | | | These tests also do not reflect on the creative skills |
| professor from Stanford University, revised it one | | | | or the body intelligence of a person. |
| more time in 1916. And lo & behold, the IQ test | | | | In the End |
| was officially ready for mass implementation! | | | | So what types of people score high on IQ tests? |
| How it Works? | | | | Are they justifiably intelligent people? Does race play |
| The way it works is pretty simple. The mental | | | | a role? One study showed that blacks scored poorly |
| prowess is tested for a number of skills, such as | | | | until the 1950s, before education took off in a big |
| logical reasoning skill, pattern recognition skill, cognitive | | | | way. |
| skill, mathematical computational skill, | | | | The IQ test scores of some famous personalities |
| three-dimensional visualization skill, language fluency, | | | | were: Einstein, 160; Mozart, 165; Leonardo Da Vinci, |
| general knowledge, etc. Scores are given for each of | | | | an incredible 220! There is no set recipe on how to |
| these skill categories and based on them an overall | | | | score high, but training your senses to be receptive |
| score is assigned that indicates the IQ of the person. | | | | to things happening around you and maintaining your |
| This IQ score is supposed to indicate a person's | | | | physical and emotional health go a long way in |
| general intelligence. The score graph (score versus | | | | increasing your IQ. |
| number of people) of IQ tests conducted in large | | | | Summary: |
| populations is a bell-shaped curve, indicating that most | | | | In the eyes of the common man the IQ tests are |
| people in general population have an average score | | | | the perfect way to measure scientifically how clever |
| around 100. At both the extremes on the score line | | | | a person is. But the reality is that many controversial |
| there is a steep decline in the curve, implying that | | | | opinions exist on these tests, and the debate will |
| very few people fall in the genius category or in the | | | | continue till a better measure of intelligence is |
| imbecile category. | | | | formulated. |
| Sounds great, right? No. The controversies started | | | | |