Question

Check your understanding of various theories on the nature of intelligence by matching the names of their originators with the brief descriptions of the theories' main themes that appear below. Choose from the following theorists: (a) Alfred Binet, (b) Howard Gardner. (c) Arthur Jensen, (d) Lewis Terman, (e) Robert Sternberg, and (f) David Wechsler. The answers are in Appendix A. _______________ This psychologist developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which originally described children's scores in terms of an intelligence quotient.

Short answer

Answer: (d) Lewis Terman

Step-by-step solution

List the given psychologists and descriptions

We have the following psychologists to choose from: (a) Alfred Binet (b) Howard Gardner (c) Arthur Jensen (d) Lewis Terman (e) Robert Sternberg (f) David Wechsler And the description given is: "This psychologist developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which originally described children's scores in terms of an intelligence quotient."

Analyze the description

The description is about a psychologist who developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which is an intelligence test that calculates the intelligence quotient (IQ) for children.

Identify the correct psychologist

Based on the provided description, we can identify the correct psychologist as (d) Lewis Terman, who developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. This scale was an adaptation of the original Binet-Simon Scale by Alfred Binet, with the intention of measuring children's intelligence quotient (IQ).

Answer

The correct psychologist matching the description is (d) Lewis Terman.

Key concepts

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is a famous intelligence test that has been used for over a century. It began as the Binet-Simon Scale, conceived by Alfred Binet in France to identify children who required educational assistance. Lewis Terman, a psychologist at Stanford University, adapted this test for use in the United States.
He made significant changes to better suit American culture and educational systems. His work led to the "Stanford" version of the scale, elevating its status as a vital instrument in measuring intelligence.
The main objectives of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale are:

• To assess learning abilities
• To offer a standardized method for gauging intelligence levels
• To provide insight into cognitive strengths and weaknesses

The scale involves a series of tasks that evaluate different cognitive domains, such as reasoning, memory, and problem-solving. As it evolved, the scale introduced revisions to stay current with advancements in psychological theories and practices.

Intelligence Quotient

The Intelligence Quotient, or IQ, is a standard score derived from standardized tests. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale was one of the initial tools to use this way of scoring. Lewis Terman was pivotal in popularizing the IQ concept. He used the IQ formula to transform the data from the test into a comprehensible score.
The traditional equation for calculating IQ is:\[IQ = \left(\frac{Mental\ Age}{Chronological\ Age}\right) \times 100\] Here, "mental age" corresponds to the age at which the average person achieves the same test results. "Chronological age" is the actual age of the person taking the test.
An IQ score is meant to offer a snapshot of a person's reasoning and problem-solving capacities compared to others in their age group. While the IQ score is a simple representation, the array of cognitive abilities it reflects can be quite vast.

• Planning and reasoning skills
• Comprehension and language abilities
• Memory retention and application

Understanding IQ helps in recognizing the diverse abilities across different individuals, but it’s important to remember that intelligence encompasses more than just a number.

Lewis Terman

Lewis Terman played a crucial role in the development of intelligence testing in America. Born in the late 19th century, he was a pioneer in educational psychology and made lasting contributions through his work on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.
One of Terman’s notable achievements was adapting the Binet-Simon Scale for a U.S. audience, effectively creating a tool for wide-scale intelligence assessment. This move opened the door for standardized testing across educational systems in America.
Terman’s version of the intelligence test was groundbreaking for several reasons:

• His adaptation introduced the concept of an IQ score as an index of human intelligence.
• He advanced the use of intelligence tests to inform educational decisions.
• Terman conducted long-term studies on giftedness, following children with high IQ scores to investigate their life outcomes.

While Terman's work established foundation stones for intelligence research and measurement, it also sparked debates on the limits and implications of using IQ as a primary marker of intelligence. His dedication to understanding human abilities provided a richer perspective on the vibrant field of intelligence studies.