Intelligence is a fairly broad concept that can be measured in different ways. In general, intelligence is defined as the set of cognitive abilities required to acquire and use knowledge. There are various intelligence tests to measure IQ, such as the RAKIT and the WISC. This results in an IQ score with which you could indicate how intelligent someone is. However, according to Spearman, there are different forms of intelligence.
Intelligence
Intelligence is the extent to which individuals have cognitive abilities to acquire knowledge that they can then use in their daily lives. This intelligence is expressed in the intelligence quotient, or IQ. Intelligence varies from person to person, no individual has exactly the same type of intelligence as another. This is because intelligence can span different domains. In addition, intelligence is never exactly the same in one person. In addition to intelligence, a person’s IQ score also depends on the adaptation of a person to the environment and on the adaptation of the environment to the person himself. For example, the intelligence of children from a disadvantaged background will be less expressed than that of children from a good background.
Types of intelligence
As mentioned earlier, intelligence can span different domains. According to Spearman, intelligence consists of a general intelligence factor (called the g factor) and specific intelligence (the s factor). General intelligence can solve several tasks, while specific intelligence only applies to solving one task. According to Ceci, there are also multiple intelligences and the interaction between the child and the environment is crucial in the development of intellectual potential.
Intelligence tests
An intelligence test is used to measure people’s intelligence. The best-known test used in Dutch primary education is probably the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-lll). This test provides an indication of the general intelligence level and cognitive capabilities of children. Moreover, the WISC-lll covers a fairly broad field of intelligence. In addition, the Revision Amsterdam Children’s Intelligence Test (RAKIT) is also widely used. This test is for children between four and eleven years old and measures the level of intellectual functioning. The RAKIT has many passive tasks and many fewer active tasks, so that not too much is asked of the children.
I.Q
The average IQ score is always 100 with a standard deviation of 15. In general, someone is said to be gifted when he is two standard deviations above the average. So with an IQ of 130 or more you are gifted. In contrast, intellectual disability is defined as an IQ of 70.
Cultural differences
Intelligence tests are culturally sensitive. This means that the standards must be adjusted per country. Children learn different things in every country. You cannot therefore simply test whether a child knows the meaning of a certain word without the words being adapted to the culture of the child in question. Because how is a Moroccan student supposed to know what a snowman is, for example, if he has never seen one before? In addition, intelligence tests also change over time. Firstly, the questions need to be adjusted, because children now learn different things than they did fifty years ago. For example, in the past people used a landline telephone, while nowadays almost everyone has a mobile phone. Secondly, the standards must be adapted to the current intelligence level. In general, people are becoming increasingly intelligent, which means that almost everyone would be gifted if we were to take an intelligence test from fifty years ago. By adjusting the standards, the average IQ remains around 100.