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These templates can be filled in as part of your revision because they include everything you need to know about each study under each area of component 2 of Psychology. Blank and filled in copies will be uploaded....

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Individual Differences Area: Gould (1982) - A Nation of Morons Background Intelligence: Biological definition - intelligence is related to adaptation to the environment Cognitive definition - intelligence is the ability to deal with cognitive complexity A key issue related to intelligence is the one of nature and nurture. If it is learned (nurture) we are testing a product of a person’s experience. We should be able to enhance a person’s experience in such a way that their intelligence increases. If intelligence is learned, then the only point in testing would be to work out who needs more teaching. If intelligence is innate (nature) and unchanging then the point of testing is to classify people. Intelligence tests do assume that intelligence is an innate and fixed quantity, but this view is not accepted by everyone. IQ Testing: The term ‘IQ’ is the usual test score given in an intelligence test. It stands for intelligence quotient, a quotient being the result of a division. You use your mental age (test score) and divide it by your chronological age (actual age). This is done because one would expect a 5-year-old to do less well than a 10-year-old; therefore, the scores should be adjusted for their age. The quotient is then multiplied by 100 to get rid of decimals: IQ = (MA / CA) x 100 Alfred Binet and the First IQ Test: During the early 1900’s, the French government asked psychologist, Alfred Binet to help decide which students were most likely to experience difficulty in schools. He developed a number of questions that focused on things that had not been taught in schools such as attention, memory and problem-solving skills. He quickly realised that some children could answer more advanced questions, and some could only answer questions for much younger children. He suggested the concept of a mental age, or a measurement of intelligence based on the average abilities of children of a certain age group. Aim of Study Gould aimed to examine the early history of intelligence testing as conducted by Yerkes on army recruits in the USA during WW1. Gould aimed to identify the following issues in psychology:  The problematic nature of psychometric testing in general and the measurement of intelligence in particular  The problem of theoretical bias influencing research in psychology, in particular how psychological theories on the inherited nature of intelligence and the prejudice of a society can dramatically distort the objectivity of intelligence testing  The problem of the political and ethical implications of research, in this case the use of biased data to discriminate between people in suitability for occupation and even admission to a country Sample 1.75 million army recruits in the USA during WW1. The recruits included White Americans, ‘Negroes’, and European immigrants. Research Method - What and How Gould’s study is not a piece of empirical research. The study is therefore a review article that looks at the history of Yerkes’ intelligence testing. Yerkes used opportunity sampling. Alpha Test Written examination given to literate recruits, consisted of unscrambling sentences and about American culture.

Intelligence Testing Beta Test Designed for illiterates who failed alpha, consisted of number work, cube counting and relied on pencil work.

Spoken Exam Failures in previous tests were recalled for an individual exam, but only 2/5 took this from the Beta if they failed.

Gould’s criticism of the tests themselves Gould criticized that the tests were unfair and bias as they tested American culture so people who had not long migrated would struggle. Also, they were rushed which made them confusing and because of the extremely large sample, it meant that all tests were administered slightly differently. Also, the levels of illiterate and literate were different for participants so those who may be considered illiterate in one camp were considered literate in another camp. Procedure (followed by Yerkes) Yerkes would administer the Alpha test on the literates and those who were illiterate would sit the Beta test. If you failed the Alpha test, then you had to sit the Beta test. If you failed the Beta test you were brought in for Individual examination. Scores from all three exams were recorded. Yerkes findings Why does Gould criticise these? The average mental age of white American adult is The test measured American culture, so Americans 13 - just above that of a moron. would do better regardless of intelligence. ‘Negroes’ scored the lowest mental age - split into skin intensity and lighter scored higher.

Tested only in English and most ‘Negroes’ had only just come to America so no knowledge of the US.

European immigrants could be graded by their country of origin as fairer skin scored higher.

Culturally bias and done in English which made them hard to understand and were rushed.

How did test results affect immigration? Presumed ‘fact’ by politicians who limited immigration so reduced to 2% per year, 6 million Europeans barred entry to the US and led to the deaths of many.

Gould’s criticism of this One of the factors that caused the Holocaust blaming one race/population for the downfall in intelligence of a country so disposing of those who have low IQ’s.

What problems arise from Yerkes argument that intelligence is innate? Because too many men wanted to do the Beta test, the definition of literate was lowered so more men did the Alpha test, which meant their IQ would be seen as lower as they couldn’t read/write and didn’t know about American culture. This meant that it was clear they would fail. It was based on American culture so Americans would be portrayed as the smartest nation whereas other cultures who spoke other languages would not do as well. Because it was so rushed, it was very confusing for those who didn’t speak English as they didn’t really understand what was going on. Outline two reasons why Yerkes argument may be considered invalid 1. Conducted in English and not all were English-speaking so unfair and bias 2. Based on American culture and not all were American so bias and unfair Give an example of bias as identified by Gould Tests were culturally biased - Beta examination required pencil work and knowledge of numbers, but some men had never held a pencil before and didn’t know their numbers. Also, Alpha tests required knowledge of American culture but not all participants taking this test were American.

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Conclusions IQ tests are culturally and historically biased IQ tests do not measure innate intelligence IQ testing is often unreliable IQ tests may not produce valid results Inappropriate, poorly administered IQ tests can lead to tragic consequences Nations can be graded by their intelligence America is a nation of morons Evaluation (add context to your point)

Strength

Research Method

Data Type Validity

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Quasi Experiment Review of an experiment so reliable review

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Objectivity Unfair Ungeneralizable Not controlled

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Both types of data Literate and illiterate testing

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Not really analysed Unfair methods

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Same questions for each test Ecological validity for some soldiers Can be replicated Alpha and Beta same level of difficulty Clear instructions Standardised

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Not a test of intelligence Based on American culture Not accurate Literate level lowered Measurements of being literate vs. illiterate Too large sample so protocol not followed

  Reliability   

How it is Some protection of participants

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Large sample size All soldiers in the army

Ethical Issues?

Sampling Bias

Weakness

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How it isn’t Very unethical Deception No debrief No right to withdraw Harm No confidentiality Unequal of all cultures Tested on American culture Tested in English Only men Men came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, so sample wasn’t ethnocentric

Culturally biased questions as all knowledge about the USA Ethnocentrism so people from other cultures struggled How does Gould link to the key theme of measuring differences The key theme of measuring differences is about measuring how everyone is different to each other and only by measuring ways in which we are different can we compare groups of people/individuals. Gould was investigating Yerkes’ experiment during WW1 and examining early history of intelligence testing. He was looking at the problems with the tests and the consequences of the unfairness of them. He found that the IQ tests were culturally and historically bias, were unreliable and produced invalid results. He also found that they led to tragic consequences e.g. the Holocaust. How does Gould link to the individual differences area The individual differences approach believes that everyone is different and unique and that is it these differences that explain our behaviour. This includes looking at differences such as culture, biology and the way we think. Gould was investigating Yerkes’ experiment during WW1 and examining early history of intelligence testing. He was looking at the problems with the tests and the consequences of the unfairness of them. He found that the IQ tests were culturally and historically bias and Yerkes’ results reflected this as Americans had the highest IQ, then the Europeans (educated) then the ‘Negroes’, most of which were illiterate. ...