AS level Psychology The Core studies. S J Gould (1982) n A Nation Of Morons? n The misuse of IQ tests.

AS level Psychology

The Core studies

AS level Psychology

The Core studies

S J Gould (1982) S J Gould (1982)

A Nation Of Morons?A Nation Of Morons?

The misuse of IQ testsThe misuse of IQ tests

Some background….Some background….

Intelligence is a controversial subjectIntelligence is a controversial subject

What is intelligence?What is intelligence?

Class suggestionsClass suggestions

Some background….Some background….

Two questions that create Two questions that create controversy…controversy…

Is INTELLIGENCE inherited?Is INTELLIGENCE inherited? (The nature / nurture debate)(The nature / nurture debate)

Can IQ be measured?Can IQ be measured?

S J Gould - A Nation of Morons S J Gould - A Nation of Morons

His book - The mismeasure of manHis book - The mismeasure of man

showed how these questions can have showed how these questions can have large social consequenceslarge social consequences

The History of IQ testingThe History of IQ testing

First IQ tests developed by Alfred BinetFirst IQ tests developed by Alfred Binet (France)(France) These were developed to identify These were developed to identify

children who needed ‘special’ children who needed ‘special’ education - education -

Binet believed that IQ could be Binet believed that IQ could be increased by educationincreased by education

The history of IQ testingThe history of IQ testing

Early IQ tests gave estimate of Early IQ tests gave estimate of children’s MENTAL age by comparing children’s MENTAL age by comparing their performance on various tasks with their performance on various tasks with performance of children at various performance of children at various agesages

The history of IQ testingThe history of IQ testing

calculated ascalculated as IQ = IQ = Mental AgeMental Age

Chronological age x 100Chronological age x 100

Nowadays NORM referenced.. that is Nowadays NORM referenced.. that is the average performance of a group is the average performance of a group is calculated, then individual comparisoncalculated, then individual comparison

IQ testing in the USAIQ testing in the USA

In the USA strong supporters of In the USA strong supporters of IQ testing were scientists who IQ testing were scientists who believed that IQ is MAINLY believed that IQ is MAINLY genetic, and that society should genetic, and that society should breed a superior group of peoplebreed a superior group of people

(This is called eugenics)(This is called eugenics)


Lewis Terman Lewis Terman (Professor of psychology)(Professor of psychology) (1921 - Stanford University)(1921 - Stanford University) If we would preserve our state for a If we would preserve our state for a

class of people worthy to possess it, class of people worthy to possess it, we must, as far as possible, prevent we must, as far as possible, prevent the propagation of mental degeneratesthe propagation of mental degenerates


This means that scientists should This means that scientists should identify the ‘useless and stupid’ and identify the ‘useless and stupid’ and find some way of preventing them find some way of preventing them having childrenhaving children

S J Gould’s article - S J Gould’s article - The mismeasure of manThe mismeasure of man

S J Gould - A Nation of MoronsS J Gould - A Nation of Morons

The place - The USAThe place - The USA The time - the outbreak of the great war - The time - the outbreak of the great war -

(World War 1: 1914 - 1918) (World War 1: 1914 - 1918)

Robert Yerkes - psychologistRobert Yerkes - psychologist persuaded the US military persuaded the US military to administer IQ tests to 1.75 million army to administer IQ tests to 1.75 million army

recruitsrecruits


Three types of testsThree types of tests The Army Alpha - a written test taken The Army Alpha - a written test taken

by literate recruitsby literate recruits eight parts - fill in the missing number - eight parts - fill in the missing number -

unscramble a sentence, etcunscramble a sentence, etc some examplessome examples Washington is to Adams as first is to -------Washington is to Adams as first is to ------- Crisco is a: Crisco is a: patent medicine, disinfectant, patent medicine, disinfectant,

toothpaste, food producttoothpaste, food product

S J Gould - A nation of moronsS J Gould - A nation of morons

The Army Beta - a pictorial testThe Army Beta - a pictorial test for the illiterate or those who failed the for the illiterate or those who failed the

AlphaAlpha

this test had 7 parts -this test had 7 parts - including ‘picture completion tasksincluding ‘picture completion tasks


The third test was a spoken The third test was a spoken test -test -

supposed to be administered to supposed to be administered to those who failed the Alpha and the those who failed the Alpha and the BetaBeta


YERKES said that:YERKES said that: These tests measure These tests measure NATIVE INTELLECTUAL ABILITYNATIVE INTELLECTUAL ABILITY

in other words intelligence in other words intelligence which was unaffected by culture which was unaffected by culture or educational opportunitiesor educational opportunities


Gould reports many problems in the Gould reports many problems in the administration of the testsadministration of the tests

IIlliterate men were allocated to the Alphalliterate men were allocated to the Alpha

The queues for the Beta became so long that The queues for the Beta became so long that some men were reallocated to the Alphasome men were reallocated to the Alpha

Many who failed the Alpha were never Many who failed the Alpha were never recalledrecalled


The BETA test still required men to use The BETA test still required men to use pencils and paper - and many had pencils and paper - and many had never been educated at allnever been educated at all

Gould suggests that all the results Gould suggests that all the results should be viewed with scepticismshould be viewed with scepticism

(doubt and disbelief)(doubt and disbelief)


However the results were used by the However the results were used by the army and had great impact - mental army and had great impact - mental testing became…..testing became…..

‘ ‘scientifically established’scientifically established’

by 1921 commercial and by 1921 commercial and educational establishments educational establishments were using the testswere using the tests

The creation of 3 ‘so called facts’The creation of 3 ‘so called facts’

‘‘FACT 1’FACT 1’ The average mental age of The average mental age of

white American adults stood at white American adults stood at 13 … this is just above the 13 … this is just above the level of moronitylevel of moronity


‘‘Fact 2’Fact 2’ It was possible to grade European It was possible to grade European

immigrants by their country of originimmigrants by their country of origin The fair people of Northern & Western The fair people of Northern & Western

Europe higher than the Slavs of Europe higher than the Slavs of Eastern Europe who were higher than Eastern Europe who were higher than dark people of southern Europedark people of southern Europe


‘‘Fact 3’Fact 3’ Black people scored lowest of allBlack people scored lowest of all

These ‘facts’ were used to provide a These ‘facts’ were used to provide a genetic explanation for the differencesgenetic explanation for the differences


Carl Brigham (Yerkes colleague)Carl Brigham (Yerkes colleague) Explained the differences in terms of racial Explained the differences in terms of racial

superioritysuperiority

““we notice the Einsteins of the we notice the Einsteins of the world BECAUSE they are world BECAUSE they are exceptional for their Jewish race”exceptional for their Jewish race”


However this arguments is opposed by 2 However this arguments is opposed by 2 argumentsarguments

FIRSTLYFIRSTLY Immigration from different parts of Europe Immigration from different parts of Europe

took place at different timestook place at different times The most recent immigrants scored worse The most recent immigrants scored worse

on the written tests .. If native IQ was being on the written tests .. If native IQ was being measured ‘written English should have NO measured ‘written English should have NO effecteffect


SECONDLYSECONDLY

Test scores rose with length of stay in the Test scores rose with length of stay in the USA evidencing a cultural biasUSA evidencing a cultural bias

Those who had been in the USA longer Those who had been in the USA longer were more familiar with American customs & were more familiar with American customs & productsproducts


BrighamBrigham

argued that it was a sign of intelligence argued that it was a sign of intelligence to emigrate to the USA and that the to emigrate to the USA and that the brightest came sooner!!brightest came sooner!!

Later immigrants were progressively Later immigrants were progressively more stupidmore stupid


Despite the evidence IQ tests took holdDespite the evidence IQ tests took hold 1924 US Congress passed the 1924 US Congress passed the

Immigration Restriction ActImmigration Restriction Act

The Act set quotas for immigration to The Act set quotas for immigration to the US based on figures 30 years the US based on figures 30 years earlier when immigration from Southern earlier when immigration from Southern & Eastern Europe was low& Eastern Europe was low


Gould called this -Gould called this - A victory for scientific racismA victory for scientific racism

During the next 20 years conditions in During the next 20 years conditions in eastern Europe worsened for Slavs eastern Europe worsened for Slavs and Jewsand Jews

(The Nazi years)(The Nazi years)


Gould estimates thatGould estimates that

Immigration quotas barred up Immigration quotas barred up to 6 million people from to 6 million people from entering the USAentering the USA


There is STILLThere is STILL

No good evidence to suggest No good evidence to suggest that IQ differences are the that IQ differences are the result of genetic differencesresult of genetic differences


There is STILLThere is STILL No clear operational definition No clear operational definition

of intelligenceof intelligence Both race and IQ are political Both race and IQ are political

rather than biological factsrather than biological facts (Socially constructed)(Socially constructed)


Things to do -Things to do -

Identify some cultural or educational bias Identify some cultural or educational bias in the Beta test items on your examplein the Beta test items on your example

in the Alpha testin the Alpha test Washington is to Adams as first is to -------Washington is to Adams as first is to ------- What is the answer and why is this What is the answer and why is this

culturally biased?culturally biased?

S J Gould (1982)S J Gould (1982)

What about our little IQ test?What about our little IQ test?

Class discussionClass discussion

Now do the short answer questionsNow do the short answer questions

S J Gould (1982)S J Gould (1982)

METHODOLOGY?METHODOLOGY?

This was a review article taken This was a review article taken from a book entitled -from a book entitled -

The Mismeasure of ManThe Mismeasure of Man

S J Gould - A nation of MoronsS J Gould - A nation of Morons

THE ENDTHE END

AS level Psychology The Core studies. S J Gould (1982) n A Nation Of Morons? n The misuse of IQ tests.

Documents

alpha n

n intelligence

parts n

arguments n

n immigration

established n

controversy n

n crisco