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A self-test of intelligence is a psychological test that someone can take to measure one's own intelligence.
Contents
- Self tests versus other tests of intelligence
- Certification
- Characteristics of self tests of intelligence
- Studies on self assessed intelligence
- References
As with other intelligence tests, a self-test of intelligence normally consists of a series of verbal and non-verbal intellectual tasks and puzzles. These tests usually give the taker instructions on how to complete the tasks and offer a performance score after the test has been completed.
These self-tests can be performed in various ways that are quick, easy, and can be done at home or on the go. Web sites on the internet, apps for mobile devices, and one or more books are popular choices for taking these tests.
There are two ways that one can look at intelligence: either as an innate, intrinsic, static characteristic of a person; or as a characteristic that is acquired which can be influenced by the environment and that can be improved on. These opposing points of view are part of a more general nature vs. nurture (or hereditarianism vs. environmentalist) debate that dates back to Ancient Greeks like Plato and Aristotle. Implicit theories of intelligence can be at the basis of the chosen point of view, and whether or not the results of a self-test of intelligence are considered definitive or can be improved upon may depend on this.
Self-tests of intelligence can contribute to the self-assessed intelligence (SAI) of a person, where SAI can be defined as people's estimates of their cognitive abilities in relation to the overall population.
Self-tests versus other tests of intelligence
Self-tests of intelligence are quite different from tests that are administered by others, like the Woodcock–Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Stanford-Binet IQ test, and the Wonderlic test as with a self-test normally no other parties are involved in the assessment of one's intelligence.
Other tests of intelligence are mostly performed under more controlled circumstances: under the supervision of trained psychologists (mostly in groups but sometimes individually).
The motives of self-tests of intelligence are also different. Other tests can be motivated by organizations like the military, educational institutions, or scholars, but self-tests are normally based on individual motives like curiosity, test anxiety, or pride.
Certification
Certificates one can obtain for self-tests of intelligence are called by various names such as Certificate of Intelligence, Certificate of Intellectual Achievement, Certificate of High IQ, IQ examination, and intelligence test.
Many self-tests are not offered by an official certification organization. If self-tests are not conducted by some officially certified organization, the value of them may be doubted. An IQ certificate may be offered for commercial reasons, or the way the intelligence quotient is measured may not be based on solid scientific grounds. In fact, any company that would like to do so can offer a certificate based on a self-test of intelligence. If companies do not have some sort of validation or certification to issue such certificates themselves, the value of the certificates can be taken with a grain of salt. It can be questioned who certifies the certification organization. In general, for many other kinds of certifications there are certification boards or standards. If there is no such board or standard, a certification may lack the proper accreditation, which can be defined in this context as The formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation body, that a certification body operates according to international standards.
In certain cases, self-tests of intelligence do not even offer an IQ Certificate, although it may seems obvious that they will offer them (for instance if they ask for payment for the self-test and mention an IQ certificate). At times it may seem self-evident that some test report or IQ certificate is generated as one pays for that, but none is offered.
Characteristics of self-tests of intelligence
There are various types of self-tests of intelligence, those that offer a general score, and those that offer a score based on parts of one's abilities, like logical, numeric, expressive, spacial and other abilities. Intelligence can be seen as a very complex concept, in that it encompasses many dimensions. Also emotional intelligence can be measured and self-reports of this have been investigated.
There are tests which work with a time limit, and tests that do not. This may depend on the psychological theory or framework that the test is based on.
Studies on self-assessed intelligence
According to Tatiana V. Kornilova et al. The concept of self-assessed intelligence (SAI) appeared at the intersection of three major fields of research: studies of self-evaluation and self-esteem, studies of lay (or implicit) theories of intelligence, and studies of intelligence as a general cognitive ability.
The relation between narcissistic traits of a person who performs self-evaluations of intelligence has been studied in relation with physical attractiveness.
Also, the relation between self-assessed intelligence and academic performance has been studied.