Question

Jennifer falls in the 98th% in her Stanford-Binet IQ test scores at age 12. Discuss:

   1. What her score would actually be and how it’s computed, including her MA.

   2. Whether this test can be a good or bad predictor of the child’s future

         success in school and work.

      3. What aspects of intelligence Sternberg and Gardner would argue are critical

          in determining intelligence and are not measured by the Stanford-Binet test.

Answer 1

1. What her score would actually be and how it’s computed, including her MA.

Do we really know what an IQ test really measures? How well our children take the IQ test? That is the main issue. An IQ test is not comprehensive and most certainly misses a lot of intelligences you possess.

2. Will this test can be a good or bad predictor of the child’s future success in school and work?

And by intelligences, we mean there are arguably many types of knowledges or skills that are not necessarily covered by an IQ test. Hence, this test cannot be a good predictor of the child’s future success in school and work.

3. What aspects of intelligence Sternberg and Gardner would argue are critical in determining intelligence and are not measured by the Stanford-Binet test.

Noted Psychologists Sternberg and Howard Gardner categorized intelligence into 9 domains:

• Musical
• Spatial
• Verbal
• Logical
• Bodily
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Naturalistic
• Existential

And researchers have argued that there are many more. Still we really think the IQ test covers all of those?

This problem isn't inherent to just IQ tests either. It's been argued to be a huge problem with all standardized testing, such as the SAT, GMAT, GRE, etc. A multiple choice questionnaire just isn't sufficient in determining a comprehensive understanding of someone's intelligence(s). It's the same for personality tests.

They might gauge your personality in the moment, but your personality changes from environment to environment. So is a single multiple choice questionnaire really an accurate test of who you are as a person, summing up your whole being? No. Of course not.

According to Behavior Theory, anything can be learned by anyone (unless you're in a coma or something). 'Intelligence' isn't as inherent as people make it out to be. Certainly, people have certain predispositions that make it easier or harder for them to learn certain intelligences, but that does not mean anyone is incapable. It just might take a little more work.

To sum up:

1) Don't get down on yourself. A single number doesn't really describe your intelligence.
2) If there's something you feel less than capable at, sack up and learn how to do it.