Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NULL In Psychology

This morning we participated in a planning session for Kate's future.

They are trying to label her with "Intellectual Disability." Of course we pushed back on the issue, we know Kate is smart.

The school psychologist said she tested Kate twice for IQ and the results of those tests indicate that the label does fit. Asking questions about this, apparently Kate didn't really participate in these tests. We know she has behavioral "problems" which means she's just stubborn, probably like her mother, because I am most definitely not stubborn.

She's currently receiving Occupational, Speech and Behavioral therapies, in school and privately.

Anyway, the psychologist went on to suggest that Kate's IQ was at or around 70. We both balked.

So if Kate didn't truly participate (i.e. cooperate), how in the hell can she have a score? It sounds like NULL, or unknown, to me.

The psychologist then dropped the big bomb, "Kate's IQ is 70."

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Really? How do you get that if she didn't participate (cooperate)? How can the absence of value be a value?

I'm usually the first to accept Kate's shortcomings...I hope that she will live a perfectly normal life such as you and I, but I am not oblivious to the fact that she may need help. What I will not accept is the unproven fact that she is "Intellectually Disabled."

Just needed to get this off my chest. Pardon the intrusion...go about your day now.

2 comments:

Noons said...

Chet: I'm not a quack, far from it. And I understand as much about psychology and IQ tests as I do about the habits and life of the lesser crested sooty blue wren, blessed be its feathers.

But logic, I darn well understand! And I reckon you got the definition of NULL in psychology absolutely bang-on!

mcohen01 said...

Mainstream psychology, especially in education, doesn't know what to do if they can't put a label on something.