A. No, they do not, according to Mitchell J. Nathan, professor of learning sciences in the UW-Madison departments of educational psychology and curriculum and instruction.

Like any test, IQ tests present certain test items and exclude many others. One's IQ test score simply measures how one did on those particular items relative to other people.

"The selection of test items matters a great deal," Nathan said. "How would you do on an IQ test given in Chinese? Or on one that requires spatial reasoning?"

Psychologist Robert Sternberg has explored the importance of "practical knowledge," a measure of applying what one knows and compensating for one's weaknesses. Practical knowledge is important because it predicts job success better than IQ score, Nathan said.

And some who score high on tests of practical knowledge -- they are smart by some standards -- score low on IQ tests. Treating IQ score as a measure of how smart someone is leads to problems, as when teachers or students lower their expectations. Ironically, this can lead one to put in less effort and encounter fewer intellectual and personal challenges.

So why have IQ tests? They seem to measure the kind of knowledge emphasized in schools. They also reflect beliefs that we should be able to efficiently distribute limited resources (such as advanced educational opportunities) to those most deserving.

"This brief account may debunk some of these ideas," he said.

-- Produced in cooperation with University Communications

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