Click to edit Master title style
Area:
Gould (1982) Individual di
area
A Nation of Morons Theme:
Bias IQ test
(Classic Stu
,Click to edit Master title style
Background
Yerkes was a Harvard University psychologist. Psychology was seen as a'soft' science at the time
(early 1900s), therefore Yerkes aimed to change that by demonstrating that it could be as objectiv
and quantifiable as other scientific fields. Yerkes likewise felt that intelligence was inherited and t
unchangeable (due to nature). With the onset of WW1, Colonel Yerkes came up with the idea of
using recruits for the American army as a source of sufficient data to demonstrate that intelligenc
testing was scientific. Colonel Yerkes was successful in convincing the American government to go
along.
What is IQ?
An Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived
from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed
to assess human intelligence, such as measuring
problem solving abilities and reasoning.
, Click
Aim oftothe
editstudy
Master title style
The aim was to reveal basic problems in attempts to measure intelligence in relation to
Yerkes’ study, Gould aimed to identify the following issues in psychology:
• 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.
• 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.
Area:
Gould (1982) Individual di
area
A Nation of Morons Theme:
Bias IQ test
(Classic Stu
,Click to edit Master title style
Background
Yerkes was a Harvard University psychologist. Psychology was seen as a'soft' science at the time
(early 1900s), therefore Yerkes aimed to change that by demonstrating that it could be as objectiv
and quantifiable as other scientific fields. Yerkes likewise felt that intelligence was inherited and t
unchangeable (due to nature). With the onset of WW1, Colonel Yerkes came up with the idea of
using recruits for the American army as a source of sufficient data to demonstrate that intelligenc
testing was scientific. Colonel Yerkes was successful in convincing the American government to go
along.
What is IQ?
An Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived
from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed
to assess human intelligence, such as measuring
problem solving abilities and reasoning.
, Click
Aim oftothe
editstudy
Master title style
The aim was to reveal basic problems in attempts to measure intelligence in relation to
Yerkes’ study, Gould aimed to identify the following issues in psychology:
• 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.
• 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.
