Latest research done in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated a relationship between motivation and intellectual performance during IQ test and more importantly, between performance and future success of an individual. Angela Lee Duckworth, professor of psychology at Penn School of Arts and Sciences, was leading the research that involved two related studies.
The purpose of the first study was to make an aggregation of information obtained from previous researchers on the factors that influence IQ test results. Individuals who test scores above average in intelligence, motivation provided about a quarter of the total number of points. At the same time people who achieved a low score were almost lacking the motivation during the test.
The second study was done in order to analyze video images with a group of teenagers during the IQ test. The researchers assessed the degree of motivation, criminal record, new Employment and Education.
Duckworth performed a research that has been published in the magazine Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"The results from IQ tests are predictive of long-term absolute. But the question of who started the study is whether indeed intelligent people choose better life than others", said Duckworth.
Do elevated test results predict the future success of IQ due to such traits as respect for the authority, self-control, attention, competitiveness? Are these features essential to ensure success in life?
"This means that people who get high on IQ test results are striving more and are more intelligent", she said.
The research was conducted by: Patrick D. Quinn Duckworth - Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin Donald R. Lynam - Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, and Rolf Loeber and Magda Stouthamer-Loeber - Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh - School of Medicine.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging.