The Measurement of Intelligence

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume XXI, Issue 1137, 27 October 1922, Page 3

The Measurement of Intelligence

(By J.J.M.) [Continued].

Tbe sixth test is interesting, and it is surprising how many children succeed in it despite its apparent difficulty. Here are given several sentences in a foreign language (in this case a simplified Hindustanee) with the meaning opposite. Each sentence contains a word, used also in one of the other sentences, and the examinee is required to compare the sentences and pick out the words, which have certain meaning*, thus : 1. Kuchh malai— some cream

2. Kuchh puri leoge—Will you take

some cake t 3. Misri leoge— Will you take sugar 7

Io 1 tbe word for “some” is to be underlined, io 2 tbe word for “cake,” and in 3 tbe word for “will you take.” There are sixty questions in all, and the number answered is a fair test of tbe individual’s mentality taken in connection with his age. It has been found by a prolonged series of trials that tbe average child of eight years will answer two or three questions c rrectly ; one of ten years will manage twelve ; one of thirteen years will succeed in thirty-seven, while a y ung person of fifteen can be trusted tu account for fifty, two, and so on. A pupil of thirteen who answers thirty-seven correctly has gained the number of marks that a normal child of that age should gain, and bis inelligcnce is said to be normal. If he could manage but twelve (the number that should be answered by a child of ten), he is said to be of the mental age of ten, and hie Intelligence Quotient is 10-12 the, or 83 percent. If be accounted for fiftytwo hie mental age would ba reckoned as fifteen, and his I.Q. as 15-12 ths or 125 per cent. It is claimed that this method will find ont precocious pupils whose inherent ability may be undiscovered by both teachers and patents. Tbe highest I.Q.’s on record at Stanford University are those of two boys of about eight years old whose I.Q.’s are respectively 160 and 155. The former was not considered by bis parents to be exceptionally clever. These figures are so unusual as to be considered freakish ; and it would be interesting to follow up such cases to see if their progress in life bears out their early promise—it does not al ways do ao. Also, one must remember that success does not depend on intellect only ; diligence, courage, enLusiasm and honesty have a lot to say in the matter. These mental tests are not intended to replace other methods of assessing a person’s mental value. will not tell us whether he will keep the promise of bis early years, nor do tbi y tell us what kind of a citizen he will turn out to be. They help us to do this by measuring one important element in bis equipment—bis intelligence. They do not measure loyalty, bravery, organising capacity, or the emotional traits that make a man “ carry on.” However, in tbe long run, these qualities are to be found in men of superior intelligence mote than in men who are intellectually in fetior. Intelligence is perhaps the most important factor in efficiency apart from physical fitness. Tbe results of tbe Intelligence Tests held at tbe school are,* of course, confidential; but any parent who wishes it, will be shown bis own children’s tests on applying to tbe headmaster.