| Summary: | This is an intermediate-level presentation. Surveys of test usage consistently indicate that tests of intelligence are among the most frequently utilized assessment tools in educational, occupational, and clinical settings. These tests provide standardized samples of behavior useful for norm-referenced comparisons that facilitate inferences about how individuals are likely to perform and participate within social, academic, and occupational settings. Tests of intelligence are utilized for a variety of purposes, perhaps most notably as part of the following processes: (a) eligibility determination for special education and related services, (b) eligibility determination for Social Security income benefits, (c) selection of employees in industrial and business settings, (d) problem-solving activities in educational settings, and (e) diagnostic formulation and development of treatment goals and strategies in clinical practice. No test is universally valid for all purposes. Thus, test users must evaluate tests relative to their intended interpretations and uses of test scores. As tests of intelligence are routinely used to inform important decisions, it is imperative that test users be familiar with evaluation criteria and empirical research so that they can better evaluate the adequacy of these tests for specific purposes.
|
|---|