By The Stanford-Binet intelligence scale is one of the most widely used today, due to its great reliability. Learn a little about its history and what it consists of through this reading.
The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale was developed by Lewis M. Terman , a psychologist and researcher at Stanford University in the United States. It was first published in 1916 and has since been revised and updated four times, the last of which was in 2003.
Although this is a widely used test around the world, many people are not clear about its function. Learn more about this scale in this article.
What is the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale?
It is a test used in psychology, the result of which is the objective of having a standardized instrument that would allow the reliable measurement of intelligence and cognitive abilities in children and adults .
It is important to clarify that this is an adaptation of another test: the Binet-Simon test. The latter was created by the famous psychologist Alfred Binet , together with his student Theodore Simon. It was unveiled in 1905 during a conference in Rome.
Broadly speaking, what Lewis Terman did was simplify and refine the test devised by Alfred Binet. Binet is known as the father of IQ tests and his test, as originally conceived, is still used today.
Origin of the Stanford-Binet scale
The Stanford-Binet intelligence scale was born when Lewis M. Terman translated the Binet-Simon test from French and adapted some of its categories to the American reality. He also introduced the concept of intelligence quotient (IQ) and the basic formula to measure it: IQ = mental age / chronological age x 100. In this way, he made the results easier to understand and interpret.
At that time, there was a strong influence of eugenics, a topic that is addressed in an article in the journal Acta bioethica . It is noted there that it is a social philosophy that promotes the selection and promotion of “the fittest” in various areas of life, in this case, intelligence.
Therefore, this tool, in principle, served the purpose of classifying people according to their intelligence and, in this way, approving or not their entry into institutions such as schools, the army, among others.
Although these types of instruments are still controversial, the truth is that they are still used for the same selection purposes in various institutions today .
The original Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale was revised in 1932 by Terman himself to reduce the emphasis on memory and emphasize non-verbal questions, among other aspects.
There was another revision in 1960 by Maud Merrill, another in 1982 by Robert Thorndike, and the last one by Gale Roid in 2003. This is the version that is still valid today and is considered to be very reliable.
Test Description
This test contains four main assessment scales: verbal reasoning, abstract/visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and short-term memory. There are 15 subscales, but these are not applicable to all ages; only six of them are fixed: vocabulary, comprehension, pattern analysis, quantitative, counting memory, and memory for sentences .
Let’s see, in general terms, what each of the main scales that are part of this intelligence test is about.
Verbal reasoning
It measures verbal knowledge and comprehension. It reflects the ability to apply verbal skills to new situations . It includes aspects such as social intelligence, word knowledge, the ability to differentiate between the central and the random, among others.
Abstract/visual reasoning
It measures the ability to perform and interpret mathematical operations . It includes variables such as the ability to find patterns, problem solving through the use of reasoning and visual and motor skills.
Quantitative reasoning
In this case, three aspects are measured: numerical reasoning, concentration and knowledge and application of numerical concepts . The first of these elements is combined with the result of abstract/visual reasoning to determine the overall score.
Short-term memory
Obviously, this area measures short-term memory, but also concentration and sequencing skills . It includes aspects such as visual and auditory memory, as well as verbal and numerical elements.
Test reliability
The Stanford-Binet intelligence scale is considered a consistent test . This means that it has high reliability in most cases. Interestingly, it is much more accurate in measuring giftedness than disability.
Experts agree that the best way to achieve greater reliability is to apply the test twice, six months apart. This test is currently used almost everywhere in the world.
An adaptable tool
An article published in the journal Interacciones mentions how the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale has been applied in Paraguay, indicating that in the process it was necessary to make adaptations according to local conditions. Thus, the cultural reliability of this tool was improved.
Therefore, it can be said that this intelligence test is not a completely unalterable technique, and that it may present some variations to obtain better results depending on the cultural environment of the participants. However, we must keep in mind that any change in the test must have corresponding professional support that endorses said modifications.