Testing and Individual Differences
The SAT...the Super Bowl of testing for high school kids. The axe. Whatever you call it, the results from this test are a huge determinant in the course of your academic life. Chances are, you've probably already taken it or are preparing to take it in the near future. Which god came down from Mount Olympus to decree that this test was the key to making or shattering your oh-so-important college-going dreams? (Universities did adopt it as a signalingdevice... Were all those A's really earned, or was it just an easy school?) What do standardized tests really show, and are they accurate?
Assessments show individual differences in scholastic achievement andintelligence. The SAT may not be a perfect exam, but it does create a measure by which a college can compare one seemingly identical applicant to another. In the history of psychology, many tests have been developed, with different objectives, styles, and efficacies.
Some tests reveal a lot of information about a person...and some amount to little more than recyclable material.
Study Break
"Stop relaxing. It is the most important test of your life." – Stephen Colbert on the SAT exam
Intelligence
Intelligence is subjective. Lisa Simpson is smart; Homer is not. How do we know this? We all have a gut-level sense for what makes a person "smart"—that is, who is and isn't the sharpest Ginsu knife in the drawer. Intelligence in this context is defined as how a person processes information from, thinks about, and interacts with the world.
Here are the main types or aspects of intelligence.
Abstract intelligence (Fluid Intelligence)
Abstract intelligence is the ability to solve undefined problems and acquire new skills. The ability to acquire new skills can change with age; picking up the Arabic language is easier at age 5 than at age 80.
Measures of abstract intelligence include asking a child to build a Tinker Toy tower (without using concrete), or asking him to order pictures in a way that makes sense. The child with more abstract intelligence will fill in the unknown edges and gap with creativity to make that tower happen. He's an ambitious little guy to be so committed to architecture at age 4.
Crystallized Intelligence
Crystallized intelligence is the ability to use knowledge that has been acquired over time. Each year that goes by, students in school are able to build on previous knowledge and read more challenging books, or complete more complex math problems.
Verbal Intelligence
Verbal intelligence is the ability to use language to express thoughts and understand presented information. Examples include the Reading section of the SAT or figuring out math word problems. Questions are things like, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" and so forth.
Aspects of intelligence
Processing speed isn't about how big or fast your computer is. Instead, it refers to speed of thought, such as the length of time it takes a person to answer a question or complete a task. Processing speed can be affected by his BFF attention, the cousin of focus.
As you can imagine, the nature versus nurture debate (the push and pull of whether your genes or your environment have more influence on an aspect of your life—in this case, your intelligence) rears its head in discussions of intelligence. Cultures have different measures of intelligence and value different types of thinking. If, for instance, you are stuck in a country that is primarily made of dirt roads, the practical intelligence of knowing how to fix your popped tire and keep your vehicle running may be of more value than your awesomeness at calculus.
