Lesson Element
Gould (1982) A Nation of Morons – Bias in IQ
Testing
Instructions and answers for teachers
These instructions cover the student activity section which
can be found on page 5. This Lesson element supports
OCR A Level Psychology.
When distributing the activity section to the students
either as a printed copy or as a Word file you will
need to remove the teacher instructions section.
This core study is part of the individual differences area
and the measuring differences key theme. This core study
is an A Level only study. This lesson element focuses on
content outlined in the specification under ‘Individual
studies’ and ‘methodological issues’.
This activity offers an
opportunity for English
skills development.
September 2015
This activity offers an
opportunity for maths
skills development.
Introduction to the task
The aim of this lesson element is for students to be able to describe the review of Yerke’s research,
and how Yerke’s research was carried out. Students should also be able to evaluate the study.
Summary and Background
Gould examined the work of an influential psychologist, Robert Yerkes, who had conducted the
largest intelligence testing in history. Gould reviewed Yerkes’ methodology and also the implications
of his research, which contributed to the Eugenics movement, causing legal restrictions on
immigration to America for certain groups and preventing approximately six million Europeans from
escaping persecution and seeking refuge between 1924 and 1939.
Yerkes had conducted mass intelligence testing using psychometric tests with 1.75 million US army
recruits. Participants took one of three tests, and Yerkes found that there were significant
differences in mental ages, with White Americans having the highest score, and Black Americans,
having the lowest mental age score.
Gould reviewed his work, and found systematic errors in the content and design of his work. He
also concluded that intelligence testing of this kind is highly susceptible to bias and leads to racial
discrimination.
September 2015
Student misconceptions
Students can struggle with the notion of a review article, and may confuse Gould with Yerkes in
terms of who designed and administered the intelligence tests. It’s important to emphasis the
concept of a ‘review.’ Students may also question what a ‘psychometric test’ is, and therefore a
good idea would be to share an example of Yerke’s Army Alpha test, and highlight how it generates
quantitative data.
Teacher Preparation
Students should be given an introduction to the topic, by considering the key questions at the start of
the lesson. This can then be discussed and linked to a brief overview of Gould’s review.
Students should then be introduced to the key terminology. A good idea is for definitions to be
scattered around the classroom, and for students to try to match and complete the table. You will
need access to an OCR text book and/or OCR’s Guide to Core Studies 2 (pages 50-56) to develop
the correct definitions.
Students can then work in pairs/small groups to complete the tables on the study; procedure, results
and evaluation. The type of answers required have been modelled. Students should take
responsibility for conducting research of a key area e.g. one on method, another on results, or
evaluation. Once they have completed their research task, they should teach the other member of
their group on their designated aspect of the study
Possible student questions
What is a review article?
A review article summarises and critiques research previously conducted.
What is IQ?
IQ stands for ‘Intelligence quotient.’ IQ is simply a measurement of certain abilities - there is no
pass or fail in an IQ test. Just as there are different types of intelligence, so there are different types
of test to measure them.
Why did Gould review Yerkes’ work?
In order to highlight the problems with mass intelligence testing such as the biases within Yerkes’
research and the ethical implications of reporting on intelligence and its use and impact on society.
How was the study by Yerkes unethical?
Yerkes’ research led to racial biases within US immigration law, US military rankings, and arguably
in the way America viewed people from different parts of the world. His research has serious ethical
costs i.e. prevented Europeans seeking refuge during WWII.
Is there a better way to measure intelligence?
September 2015
Devise tests that do not rely on cultural knowledge in order to score highly. Also tests should take
account of different language abilities for people of different nationalities. .It would also be more
benefit to sit a series of different types of tests rather than just one.
What is an example of a question from the Army Alpha test?
Crisco is a: patient, medicine, disinfectant, food product
The number of a Kaffir’s legs is: 2, 4, 6, 8
Christy Mathewson is famous as a: writer, artist, baseball player, comedian.
Students will need a copy of all sheets provided in the lesson element. The teacher will need a text
book, Guide to core studies 2, their own notes on the study and evaluation in order to support
students on completion of the tasks.
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September 2015
Lesson Element
Gould (1982) A nation of morons – Bias in IQ
Testing
Student Activity
Aim of the lesson

Define key terminology associated with the study.

Be able to describe the individual study – background, method, results, and conclusions.

Evaluate the study in terms of methodological issues – strengths and weaknesses of the
research method and data, ethics, validity, reliability, sampling bias, ethnocentrism.
What is intelligence?
How do you think ‘ethics’ is
linked to the concept of
measured intelligence?
Getting you
thinking……
How could you measure
intelligence?
Do you think intelligence is a
product of nature or nurture?
September 2015
Key word
Definition
Hereditarian position
Eugenics
Psychometric testing
IQ
Army Alpha
Army Beta
Background to the study
What did Binet believe about intelligence?
What do hereditarians believe about intelligence?
September 2015
Complete the following table in fine detail
Aim
The aim was to reveal basic problems in attempts to measure
intelligence, specifically in the research carried out by Robert
Yerkes’ in 1921. The aim of Yerkes’ study was to devise a
scientific way to test the natural trait of intelligence on a mass
scale.
Research Method
Gould reviews and critiques Yerkes’ methodology: psychometric
testing of intelligence
Participants
Design and
Procedure
Three types of tests:
Army Alpha:
Army Beta:
Individual Examinations:
Issues with the tests
Test conditions:
Reliance on cultural knowledge:
Inconsistencies within the procedure:
September 2015
Results
Table of findings:
Group
White American
Black American
Russian immigrant
Italian immigrant
Polish immigrant
Mean mental age
13.04
10.41
11.34
11.01
10.74
Previous research had set the average mental age of white
Americans to be age 16, therefore age 13 was thought to be on
the edge of moronity.
His findings show that the average man of many nations would
be classed as a ‘moron.’
Notably, differences were matched with fairness of skin.
These findings influenced the assignment of different military
ranks.
Conclusions
September 2015
Evaluating the study
What key issues require
evaluation?
Evaluation…
Point/Theme
Psychometric
testing
Quantitative
data
September 2015
Explain (How/why is it a strength/
weakness? Use key terminology)
An advantage is that they are
standardised, objective and therefore
scientific measurements of
psychological concepts such as IQ.
Example (give a specific example
from the study…)
The test was received in the same
way by each participant, and
generated quantitative data which can
be analysed objectively.
However, psychometric tests offer a
reductionist measure of intelligence.
Assume that intelligence is fixed and
unchanging over time, which is over
simplistic, and therefore does not give
a full measure of intelligence.
A strength of quantitative data is that it
is objective and easy to analyse, i.e.
provide direct comparisons and allows
us to establish a ‘group norm.’
The scores on each test were
counted, and mean mental ages for
each group calculated-as its
numerical this is objective.
A weakness however, is that it is
reductionist, it implies there is a
difference, but does not give any
insight into why the differences exist.
For example, the mean mental age
was 13 for white Americans, and 10
for black Americans- we do not have
any information on why this difference
exists, which limits the usefulness of
the research.
Point/Theme
Ethics
Validity
Reliability
Sample
September 2015
Explain (How/why is it a strength/
weakness? Use key terminology)
Example (give a specific example
from the study…)
Point/Theme
Practical
applications
September 2015
Explain (How/why is it a strength/
weakness? Use key terminology)
Example (give a specific example
from the study…)
Gould’s review of Yerkes’ study is
useful as it highlights the dangers and
precautions that should be taken
regarding mass intelligence testing.
Yerkes had a profound negative
impact on social policy, therefore
such a biased approach that ignores
cultural differences must be avoided.
Although flawed in his methodology,
Yerkes’ attempt to make intelligence
testing scientific has made a
significant contribution to how we
measure intelligence today
For example, many of the mental
tests in the Army Alpha were revised
and marketed for use in education.