Overview
This lecture examines the historical development and bias of early IQ testing in the United States, particularly focusing on the work of Yerkes and the subsequent analysis by Gould regarding the validity and ethical implications of these tests.
Historical Background of IQ Testing
- French psychologists Simon and Binet developed the first IQ test in 1905 to identify children unlikely to benefit from traditional schooling.
- The Binet-Simon test measured mental age by comparing children's test results with age-based expectations.
- Lewis Terman adapted this into the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale to assess intelligence broadly, including identifying gifted individuals.
- U.S. authorities sought to apply intelligence testing on a mass scale, especially during WWI.
Yerkes and Army Intelligence Testing
- Robert Yerkes developed the Army Alpha (for literate recruits) and Beta (for illiterate recruits) tests for mass recruitment during WWI.
- The Alpha test relied on English literacy and American cultural knowledge, introducing cultural bias.
- The Beta test, meant for illiterates, still used English instructions and culturally specific images, also causing bias.
- Many illiterate or immigrant recruits were improperly tested, often placed into the Alpha group and disadvantaged.
Methodological and Ethical Problems
- The administration of the tests was inconsistent and did not follow standardized procedures.
- Low literacy among recruits led to changes in test assignment, leading to unreliable results.
- Only a small fraction of those who failed both tests had the chance for an individual spoken assessment.
Results and Impact
- Yerkes’ analysis falsely indicated that white American men had a “mental age” of 13 and ranked immigrant groups by supposed intelligence.
- Findings were manipulated and used to promote eugenics and justify restrictive immigration policies.
- The Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 was heavily influenced by these flawed results, leading to the exclusion of millions, especially Jews and people from Southern and Eastern Europe.
Gould’s Criticisms and Conclusions
- Gould concluded that Yerkes’ IQ tests were culturally and historically biased, not pure measures of innate ability.
- IQ tests are unreliable and invalid if cultural and educational factors are ignored.
- The study suffered from sampling, procedural, and validity issues, and results were inappropriately generalized to the broader population.
Key Terms & Definitions
- IQ Test — A standardized test designed to measure human intelligence.
- Alpha Test — Written intelligence test for literate recruits, biased toward American culture.
- Beta Test — Nonverbal test for illiterate recruits, still required some English and cultural knowledge.
- Cultural Bias — Favoring certain cultural groups over others, leading to unfair testing conditions.
- Sampling Bias — Results based on an unrepresentative group (e.g., only young men).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the history of intelligence testing and its consequences.
- Read Gould’s “The Mismeasure of Man” for a deeper understanding.
- Reflect on ethical considerations when interpreting psychological test results.