Study of the Gains Made by Normal-School Students in Intelligence Test Scores

Abstract

The State Normal School at Bellingham, Washington, has for a num ber of years administered entrance tests. Among these, during the past six or seven years, has been the Thorndike Intelligence Examination for High School Graduates. The complete Thorndike Examination, however, has not been used. Until October, 1930, two forms of Part I were given to each entering student, and the scores on the two forms were combined into a total score which was termed ' ' College Aptitude Rating. ' ' Since October, 1930, only one form of part one has been used. In addition to the Thorndike Examination, six achievement tests have been given to all entering students. The scores made on the Thorndike tests are interpreted in terms of the entire entering group. A new distribution is made each fall, based upon the scores made by the group entering that fall. A study of these distributions made in successive years shows no significant difference from year to year in the central tendency and variability of the groups. In May, 1930, 125 students who had entered at the beginning of the fall quarter of 1928 and who were candidates for graduation from the two-year normal course in June, 1930, were given the same forms of the Thorndike Examination and either the same form or an equivalent form of the achievement tests which they had taken upon entering the insti tution. The students were informed only a week-end beforehand that the entrance tests were to be taken again. This was done as a precaution against special preparation. The results of the gains made in the achieve ment tests have been reported elsewhere1 and will be referred to later in this article. This procedure was duplicated with the group which entered the Normal School in October, 1929, and graduated in June, 1931. The Thorndike Examination was given in January, 1932, to a group of 125 students, selected alphabetically, who had entered as regular fresh men in October, 1931, and who had taken the Thorndike Examination