Are I.Q tests Fallible Instruments?

Question

The Mensen Society suggest that I.Q test are smiply fallible instruments use to determine a concept that has yet to be determined. (according to s.logix.com I'm a genious.)

Answer 1

The idea of the IQ test was never to see how smart a person is, but to see how below average a person is. It determines an average- by giving the test to large amounts of people, and was meant to use this to test mental retardation. True, it's does show people who are above average- but that part of the test is a bi-product, and is much more debatable and less accurate than those people who fall under the average- for whom the test was constructed to identify.

Answer 2

Yes and No.

Ah, sweet ambiguity! They are valid so long as they are testing only a population that is equally knowledgable on the question topics. IQ is meant to measure logical thinking and analysis. Fair questions make a fair test.

The argument against IQ tests is that often, the questions are unfair. Think of this:

MacDonalds is to Burger King as Applebees is to _______.
a) Taco Bell
b) TGIF
c) Starbucks
d) Banana Bees

An American should be able to answer this, but someone from Siberia might be very confused. This does not mean they are stupid or have a low IQ. Try theirs:

Mufrinakilo is to Hsurtibd as Nrhsyt is to ________.
a) Rtduer
b) Tyurnst
c) Buttubuttu
d) Greenbeans

So an IQ test must first decide what questions are fair for the population to be tested. Then, and only then, they are very valuable and generally successful.

Answer 3

Yeah, they're fallible, but still valuable. Good predictors of success. They are norm-referenced tests, meaning that they compare you to all other scores that others have gotten on the same test. 100 is average and every 10 pts is a standard deviate from the average. This means the more people take the test, the more valid and valuable it gets. All an I.Q. test does is measure how able you are to perform cognitive skills compared to other people. Whether that tells you how smart or competent you are or what is your destiny is questionable. That being said, I'd like to believe in them b/c I tend to do well, too.

Answer 4

I would never put much faith into IQ tests. People are all different in many ways, and we all need to be different. We all have our different degrees of learning and dealing with what life has to offer us, and tests are not always accurate. I never do well with tests because they make me extremely nervous, and then I cant concentrate as well, so that defeats the whole purpose of the test! I know I'm not alone. Also any tests that are timed, are also tests I can never master because it makes me hurry, and therefore I cant think and take my time to come up with the best answers. We are all unique, and have special talents and abilities to offer life, and should all be rewarded for our own special gifts!

Answer 5

Of course it's fallible, you can take the same test 10 times and get better scores. Nothing in the entire world is infallible.

Answer 6

I.Q's a myth.We were told growing up that people are born with God given talents and that was it.

People are born with natural affinaties thats all,some people can sing,others are good at sport,some people can talk and talk,some people are academic,theres no explanation.

I always did good in IQ tests and a buddy of mine used do terrible yet i can say here and now that there is no way on earth that i was brainier than him.
.

Answer 7

O course, IQ tests are fallible. Besides, intelligence is not capable of being summed in a single unit since it is multifaceted.

Answer 8

Isn't everything? Humans are fallible creatures, look at all the mistakes we have made.

Answer 9

So am i, so what. That and a $1.25 will get you a coffee almost
anywhere.

I Q Is the measure of knowledge, which means nothing if you
aren't capable of using it.

Answer 10

This is really a psychology question