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What is an intelligence quotient (IQ)?

  1. A qualitative analysis of intelligence

  2. A standardized measure of intelligence

  3. A test of physical abilities

  4. A score based on emotional intelligence

The correct answer is: A standardized measure of intelligence

An intelligence quotient (IQ) is fundamentally understood as a standardized measure of intelligence. This concept stems from psychometric assessments specifically designed to evaluate cognitive abilities and intellectual potential relative to a normative sample. The scores obtained from these standardized tests allow for an objective comparison of an individual's cognitive skills against the performance of others within the same age group. In practice, an IQ score is calculated based on a series of tasks that assess various cognitive domains, such as reasoning, problem-solving, and comprehension. The aim is to quantify intelligence levels in a way that is reliable and valid across diverse populations, making it a widely accepted metric in psychological testing and educational assessment. The other options provide insights that do not align with the standard definition of an IQ. For instance, qualitative analysis pertains to subjective assessments that do not provide the objective numerical output characteristic of IQ testing. Similarly, tests of physical abilities are unrelated to cognitive assessment, and scores based on emotional intelligence focus on a different domain altogether, which reflects one's emotional awareness and management rather than general cognitive function.