Educational purposes was another main objective for the tests, such as the 11+, Gcse and A level exams and in employment the determination of intelligence is used through an aptitude test. However there are a number of limitations and controversies surrounding their use, a person taking an intelligence test could be thwarted by his/her emotional state at that time, which can be a major factor on their performance. Being in a strange environment, ill or distractions can also attribute to a bad result, this being a prediction for our future would surely make it unfair or inaccurate for the individuals ability.
Some psychologists have different theories about intelligence, whether it is inherited or environmental, twin studies is the most popular way of assessing this on individual differences. Identical twins(MZ) twins from the same genes, and fraternal(DZ) twins from 2 different eggs.
Burt claimed to have investigated 53 pairs of twins who had been reared in different environments, he found higher correlation in their I.Q’S proving that intelligence must be inherited.
A strong criticism of Burt’s theory came from Oliver Gullie he stated that Burt’s research was fake, and he invented data, he also said that Burt published papers from 2 research assistants that didn’t exist.
Jensen accepted Burt’s finding’s although he stated that 80% intelligence was heredity and 20% was environmental. he studied tests done on American and said that blacks scored consistently lower than whites, so therefore they should receive different forms of education. Labov(1970) stated that children from black families suffered poor housing and education. Whereas Scarr and Weinberg stated that I.Q.’s of black children adopted by white families scored just as well, and the difference is likely to be environmental. These tests are not ‘culture fair.’
The controversies surrounding twin studies is that most of the twins brought up apart were in fact brought up by different branches of the family, so they experienced the same environment.
Studies were also carried out on adopted children, Skodak and Skeels stated that adopted children had I.Q.’s much closer to their natural mother. Horn did a study on 500 adopted children and stated that correlations were so low that it was impossible to make definite statements about heredity or environment in intelligence.
Adoption studies also came under criticism, that small samples used and selective placement makes it hard to determine the effects of heredity/environment. I.Q.’s of young children are unreliable as they change as they develop and children who are adopted are usually place with families who share a similar environment.
I.Q. tests are good if used correctly although it is debatable if they are an accurate measure of intelligence however improvements in the quality of education can raise intelligence levels. The test were designed by white middle class psychologists which make the tests culture bias. Children are said to perform better second time around. Needless to say intelligence tests can be beneficial for diagnosing educational problems, however they also have their downfalls, whereas an individuals entire future may be determined form them.
