Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a measure used to assess cognitive abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and verbal skills. It provides an estimate of an individual's intellectual potential compared to others in their age group.
Standardization refers to the process of establishing norms for administering and scoring tests so that test scores can be compared across individuals.
Flynn effect: The Flynn effect refers to the observation that average IQ scores have been increasing over time in many countries.
Intellectual disability: Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors.