Glossary
Achievement Tests
Achievement tests are designed to measure what a person has already learned or mastered in a particular subject or skill.
Example:
Your AP Psychology exam is an achievement test because it evaluates your knowledge of psychological concepts you've studied throughout the year.
Aptitude Tests
Aptitude tests are designed to predict a person's future performance or capacity for learning in a specific area.
Example:
The ACT is an aptitude test that aims to predict how well a student might perform in college-level coursework.
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, typically associated with some degree of intellectual disability and characteristic physical features.
Example:
A child born with Down syndrome may require specialized educational support due to associated intellectual and developmental delays.
Eugenics
Eugenics is a discredited and ethically problematic social movement that advocated for improving the human race through selective breeding, often based on perceived intellectual or genetic superiority.
Example:
The historical movement of eugenics led to forced sterilizations and discriminatory policies, demonstrating the dangers of misapplying scientific concepts.
Gifted
Gifted refers to individuals who demonstrate exceptional intellectual ability or talent significantly above the average for their age group.
Example:
A student who consistently scores in the top 2% on intelligence tests and excels in multiple academic areas might be identified as gifted.
Grit
Grit refers to the passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals, emphasizing sustained effort and resilience.
Example:
Despite facing numerous setbacks, the aspiring scientist showed immense grit by continuing their research for years until they finally made a breakthrough.
IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
IQ is a score derived from standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence, originally calculated as a ratio of mental age to chronological age multiplied by 100.
Example:
If a 10-year-old has a mental age of 12, their IQ would be 120, indicating above-average intellectual functioning.
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is a condition characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, originating before the age of 18.
Example:
An individual with an IQ below 70 and difficulties with daily living skills might be diagnosed with an intellectual disability.
Mental Age
Mental age is a measure of intelligence developed by Alfred Binet, representing the intellectual level at which a child is functioning, regardless of their chronological age.
Example:
A 7-year-old who can solve problems typically handled by a 10-year-old would have a mental age of 10.
Normal Curve
The normal curve, also known as the bell curve, is a symmetrical, bell-shaped graph that represents the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes, with most scores falling near the average and fewer scores at the extremes.
Example:
When plotting the IQ scores of a large population, the data typically forms a normal curve, showing that most people have average intelligence.
Psychometricians
Psychometricians are psychologists who specialize in the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits through the development and analysis of psychological tests.
Example:
A psychometrician might spend their career designing and validating new personality assessments or intelligence tests.
Reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement, meaning a reliable test will yield similar results when administered repeatedly under the same conditions.
Example:
If a new anxiety questionnaire gives you roughly the same score every time you take it over a few weeks, it demonstrates good reliability.
Savant Syndrome
Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which individuals with significant intellectual disabilities or developmental disorders demonstrate extraordinary abilities in specific areas, such as memory, art, music, or calculation.
Example:
A person with savant syndrome might struggle with basic communication but be able to perfectly recall every detail of a book they read years ago.
Standardization
Standardization involves administering and scoring a test in a uniform way for all test-takers, ensuring that results are comparable across individuals.
Example:
The SAT is a standardized test because everyone takes it under the same conditions and it's graded consistently, allowing colleges to compare scores fairly.
Stanford-Binet Test
The Stanford-Binet Test is a widely used intelligence test, adapted by Lewis Terman from Binet's original work, which is now deviation-based and compares an individual's score to others of the same age.
Example:
A psychologist might administer the Stanford-Binet Test to assess a child's cognitive abilities and identify potential learning differences.
Stereotype Threat
Stereotype threat is a situational predicament in which individuals are at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their group, leading to decreased performance on tasks.
Example:
If a female student is taking a math test and is aware of the stereotype that women are not good at math, she might experience stereotype threat and perform below her actual ability.
Validity
Validity indicates the extent to which a test accurately measures what it is intended to measure.
Example:
A driving test has high validity if it accurately assesses a person's ability to drive safely, rather than just their knowledge of traffic laws.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
The WAIS is the most widely used intelligence test for adults, developed by David Wechsler, which provides scores on various cognitive abilities, including verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning.
Example:
An adult seeking a diagnosis for a learning disability might take the WAIS to get a comprehensive profile of their intellectual strengths and weaknesses.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
The WISC is a widely used intelligence test specifically designed for children, providing a full-scale IQ score and scores for various cognitive domains.
Example:
A school psychologist might use the WISC to evaluate a student's cognitive profile and help determine appropriate educational interventions.