How to measure Intelligence

Since the early days of humanity the notion of intelligence has been one of the most elusive and controversial. From ancient times until today there have been many different approaches on what constitutes intelligence and what makes an individual intelligent. Initially some pointed out a correlation between intelligence and education, although today it is evident that education has no direct correlation to intelligence. Others have considered intelligence connected to educability and making the most out of their education, shifting the importance to the person genetic predisposition. Others have defined intelligence as the ability of good judgement and logical reasoning. Despite the specific nature of the context of intelligence, which is still today under question, what remains is the importance of intelligence and consequently the ever existing need to measure it.

One of the most commonly used ways to measure intelligence is thought the use of specific tests also known as psychometric tests. Psychometric tests are tools for assessing various capacities of individuals. Among the most utilised psychometric tests are ability tests, that is, tests that are measuring an individual’s ability to complete a specific type of tasks. Various abilities can be measured through psychometric tests, such as the abilities for verbal, numerical or spatial reasoning. Most commonly, ability tests produce a score, which is calculated by the comparison of the test taker’s answers to those of previous test takers.

Among the various psychometric tests, in the context of intelligence measuring, most commonly known and most controversial are the intelligence quotients (IQ) tests. Intelligence tests have been used to measure intelligence both in children and adults. In children, where intelligence tests were most prevalent, have been used in the context of education, to measure students’ abilities for academic excellence. In adults, intelligence test have been primarily used in the employment context, as tools to assist career selection and progression.

The term intelligence quotient (IQ) test was coined by Alfred Binet, who, prompted by the French government in 1896, created the first such intelligence test in the field of education, in order to identify students with intellectual deficiencies, for their placement to appropriate educational programs. The Initial test created by Binet was revised by subsequent research conducted with the assistance of a physician at a French school for mentally challenged children and gave rise to the improved Binet – Simon test. Subsequently, research conducted by Terman at the University of Stanford produced a newer revision of the test, the Stanford-Binet IQ test, a version of which, the Stanford-Binet 5, is used today to measure intelligence on five main areas of focus, which include Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Processing, and Working Memory. The Binet intelligence quotients (IQ) tests operate by assessing the mental age of the test taker and calculating the ratio of mental to chronological age.

Despite the popularity and the wide use of psychometric tests for the measurement of intelligence, there has also been a lot of critique and concerns over the years regarding intelligence tests and mainly regarding both their propriety and their ability to measure intelligence. The main issue relates to the fact that intelligence is a fluid and abstract concept, the measurement of which lacks clarity regardless of the tools that are used to measure it. Contrary to those who have expressed concerns regarding intelligence tests, their proponents have been arguing their successful implementation in various fields and especially in the context of education, where there have been successfully representative in their prediction of student’s abilities for academic success. Nevertheless, the usefulness of intelligence tests as a way of measuring an individual’s cognitive abilities has been widely accepted and is today extensively utilized and even assisted by modern technological developments.