Researchers in United States said that intelligence tests are as much a measure of motivation as they are of mental ability.
In the latest study conducted by the researchers from Pennsylvania, they have found out that inorder for a person to have a high IQ score he must have both the high intelligence and high motivation, while on the other hand, those with low IQ score might be a result of lack of either of the two factors.
The newest study was published in proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers who did the study have analyzed the previous findings that explain how materials incentives affected the performance of the 2,000 people in the intelligence test.
According to the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, they have found out that such incentives do affect the increase of all IQ scores in humans, but particularly for those of individuals who has a lower IQ scores.
They have also tested on what will be the impact of motivation to the result of a persons IQ test and on the predictions of intelligence and performance in the person’s later life.
The team have used the data from a long term study conducted to the 250 boys who are in the adolescence to early adulthood stage of life, and from this information they have concluded that there are some individuals who try harder than others in condition where the stakes are low.
Study explains that IQ score is not merely a measure of intelligence because if person would rely on it, it over estimate the predictive validity of the true meaning of intelligence.
Inorder to get a high score in an IQ test, a person must have both the intelligence and the high motivation to perform to the extent of its ability.
Senior Honorary Lecturer in Psychology at the University College London, Dr. James Thompson said that IQ test result has always been a combination on innate ability and other variables.