Gould

• In 1904 the Simon-Binet test was the world's first intelligence test. It was later adapted for use in the USA and was renamed the Stanford-Binet test.
• During WW1, millions of recruits needed to have their IQ tested so Yerkes combined ideas of inherited intelligence to develop the Army Alpha and Beta tests. He wanted to show that IQ could be objectively measured.
• Gould wanted to review Yerkes' intelligence tests and show the problems of psychometric testing including prejudice and subjectivity.
• Gould aimed to examine the early history of intelligence testing conducted by Yerkes on army recruits during WW1. Gould aimed to identify the problems with measuring intelligence, the problems of bias/prejudice in psychology and the ethical and political implications of research.
• The study is a review article written by Gould in his book the Mismeasurement of Man which traces IQ testing throughout history.

  Yerkes looked at 1.75 million Army recruits in the USA during WW1.
• The Army Alpha test was an 8 part test designed for literate recruits that included questions about number sequences and analogies.

  The second test was the Army Beta test for illiterate recruits or recruits who failed the Army Alpha it had 7 parts and consisted of picture completion tasks.

  If recruits failed both tests they had to take part in a spoken examination.
• After testing individuals were graded from A to E which indicated suitability for the army.
• There were many issues with how the tests were conducted:

  • Illiterate recruits were not always given the Beta test meaning they ended up with very low scores,
  • There were long queues for the Beta test so there was an artificial lowering of standards to take the Alpha test (e.g. lowering the education requirement),
  • Gould argued that much of the test content relied heavily on cultural knowledge and access to schooling so was not truly measuring innate intelligence,
  • Test conditions were often very cramped.
• Yerkes found:

  • The average white American man had a mean mental age of 13 which is just above the standard of "moron",
  • The average block American man had a mean mental age of 10,
  • European immigrants were graded based on their country of origin (Eastern Europeans and dark skinned Europeans scoring the lowest),
  • 2/3 of the men who had been promoted by the end of the war had achieved a good test result.
• Yerkes' conclusions:

  • Intelligence is an innate quality and it is possible to grade individuals based on the colour of their skin,
  • The average man of each nation would be considered "morons",
  • Mental and intelligence testing is a valid scientific technique.
• Gould conclusions:

  • IQ tests are culturally and historically biased,
  • IQ tests do not measure innate intelligence and produce unreliable and invalid results,
  • Inappropriate and poorly administered IQ tests lead to tragic consequences (1924 immigration Act)
• The Immigration Restriction Act was passed in 1924 by US Congress based on Yerkes' findings and restricted the immigration of Eastern and Southern Europeans. This made it harder for Jews trying to escape the Nazis to find refuge in the US.