An intelligence quotient, commonly known as “IQ,” is a total score derived from a set of standardised tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence.
The term “IQ” was created by psychologist William Stern in 1912. He shortened the German term “Intelligenzquotient,” which he used for a method of scoring intelligence tests, to “IQ.” He advocated for this scoring method in a book he wrote while at the University of Breslau, now the University of Wrocław in Poland.
Originally calculated by dividing mental age by chronological age, IQ is now standardised to a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. While IQ scores are estimates of intelligence, they are influenced by factors such as nutrition, socioeconomic status, and environment. Though heritability has been studied, debates about its significance and mechanisms continue. IQ scores are used for educational placement, assessing intellectual ability, and evaluating job applicants. Research has shown correlations between IQ and job performance and income. The Flynn effect, a phenomenon observed since the early 20th century, has shown a gradual increase in raw IQ scores, offering insights into human intelligence.
However, WorldData.info, a comprehensive database offering a large collection of information about the world, including climate, geographic, and population data, has ranked Ghana as the 8th country with the lowest average IQ globally. Ghana, with a total of 61 IQ points, shares the ranking with Ivory Coast.
The ranking, according to WorldData.info, was based on data from multiple international research projects examining the relationship between average income and government spending on education across countries from 2000 to 2019.
The top five countries with the lowest IQ ratings in the world are Nepal (51 points), Sierra Leone (52 points), Guatemala (55 points), Gambia (55 points), and Equatorial Guinea (56 points). The top five countries with the highest IQs are Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan (all with 106 points), and China (104 points). The United States of America ranks 30th with 97 points.
“The average IQ score is set at 100. A score within 15 points above or below this average (between 85 and 115) is considered normal. However, individual factors, such as the person’s mental and physical well-being, can influence their IQ score by as much as 10 points,” says WorldData.info.
WorldData.info also argues that intelligence is not solely determined by education. A person who can achieve the same educational level with less effort is considered more intelligent. For instance, some intelligence tests include questions about current politicians, assessing a person’s ability to recall names and positions based on media exposure.
The website emphasises that the IQ score is not a true measure of intelligence. It is simply a numerical result from a test designed by Western Europeans, based on Western standards and specific to their environment. Applying these same standards to other cultures is highly debatable. Important factors such as emotional intelligence, creativity, practical skills, drive, and hard work are not assessed in IQ tests and rarely factored into any models for interpreting the results.
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Story by: Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
