The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale free essay sample

This paper will cover the historical significance of the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale. This scale was originally called the Binet-Simon scale. Albert Binet and Theodore Simon together created this scale. This scale was originally created for children. Intelligence testing became significant in the 21st century as it enabled mainly schools to seek out children who need academic help. However, this test was taken a step further in the 21st century by major corporations who use the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale as a major tool during the hiring process and to determine a person’s IQ. Historical Significance The field of psychology owes the† notion of intelligence to the French psychologist Alfred Binet, who developed the Binet Simon scale together with his student Theodore Simon in 1904† (Rosati, 2004). Albert Binet and Theodore Simon believed â€Å"that in intelligence there is a fundamental faculty, the alteration or the lack of which, is of the utmost importance for practical life. We will write a custom essay sample on The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This faculty is judgment, otherwise called good sense, practical sense, initiative, the faculty of adapting ones self to circumstances. A person may be a moron or an imbecile if he is lacking in judgment; but with good judgment he can never be either. Indeed the rest of the intellectual faculties seem of little importance in comparison with judgment. However, in 1916 the Binet-Simon intelligence test was re-named to the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale by Lewis Terman (Becker, 2003). History of Stanford-Binet In 1891, Binet began working at the Sorbonnes Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and was appointed its Director in 1894. Theodore Simon applied to do doctoral research under Binets supervision (Plucker, 2012) According to Plucker, (2012) Binet and Simon created a scale that contained a variety of tasks the two men thought would representative a child’s abilities at various ages. This scale was based on many years of observing children in his or her natural settings. This scale consisted of thirty tasks each one more complicated than the task before. According to Plucker (2012) Binet and Simon believed that the easiest tasks could be accomplished by all children, even those who were severely retarded. â€Å"Some of the simplest test items assessed whether or not a child could follow a lighted match with his eyes or shake hands with the examiner. Slightly harder tasks required children to point to various named body parts, repeat back a series of 3 digits, repeat simple sentences, and to define words like house, fork or mama. More difficult test items required children to state the difference between pairs of things, reproduce drawings from memory or to construct sentences from three given words such as Paris, river and fortune. The hardest test items included asking children to repeat back 7 random digits, find three rhymes for the French word obeisance and to answer complicated questions† (Plucker, 2012, p 2). Significance in the 21st Century One of the main significance to the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale is its ability to measure a person’s IQ. According Kreger, (2012), â€Å"up until 1986 the Stanford-Binet Intelligence scale and all five editions remained the test of choice in identifying gifted children. According to Kreger (2012) in 1989 Kathi Kearney wrote that â€Å"it is her belief that the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale should be given as a supplementary test† (p3). According to Link (2002) â€Å"The Stanford-Binet IQ test is simply drawing on these same material cognitive techniques and associating ones ability to use them with the term intelligence, allowing the social classification that was the purpose of the test to be made according to the ability to think scientifically† The Effects on Psychology The Stanford-Binet Intelligence scale has played a huge role in the field of psychology. Today, there are many different categories of psychology. However, the Stanford-Binet scale fits best in the fields of child psychology, and industrial and organizational psychology (IO). As explained above this scale is based mainly around the ability to determine gifted children. Many gifted children are used as research subjects in psychology to help aide researchers in the advancement of intelligence. School psychologists especially use the Stanford-Binet to determine placement of a child based on his or her intelligence. Many large corporations retain the services of IO psychologist’s to ensure that employees are able to function and comprehend his or her job duties and responsibilities. Conclusion This paper covered an important part of psychological testing; the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale. This scale was originally called the Binet-Simon scale but was re-named in 1916 by Lewis Terman. This test is revolved around a person’s age and what is believed to be the normal range of IQ at that particular time. The significance of the Stanford-Binet revolves mainly around psychologists being able to recognize a â€Å"gifted child†. However, there are many ways in which this scale can be used. Employers of major corporations can also use this test to ensure the intelligence and integrity of its employees. Psychologists in almost every field use the Stanford-Binet scale; however it is most prevalent in child and IO psychology.