Stability of Measure In High Intellectual Ability: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Despite there having been improvements in efficiency and ease on test scoring for individuals with high intellectual ability, the stability of these scores is not assured. The main objective of our research is a preliminary detection of variations in test scores from a group of children that were identified as having HIA. This was done by means of a single-time assessment of children currently following an enrichment program. A total of n=26 students participated (19 male and 7 female) in the study. The age range was between 12 and 17 years, being the average age 13.89 years (SD = 1.09 years). Differential Aptitude Test (DAT-5) and Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) were used to assess the logical-deductive intellectual skills and creative thinking. The results show that test scores may change in a considerable amount in many supposedly HIA individuals. More than 30% of the variance cannot be attributed to common components in the two measurements points. The scores in creativity were the most fluctuating, something that could be expected of these scales having the lowest reliability indexes. Only eight participants remain steady, according to the one standard deviation criterion, and it is quite notorious that two participants show a decrease in three subscales out of five. On the other hand, two other participants have shown an increase in one subscale as well as a decrease in another. In order to foster HIA individuals and their wellbeing, it is essential to be careful with mistaken diagnoses (false-negatives and false-positives), given the fact that they will lead to developmental consequences.