Intelligence Quotient survey of Thai children in two decades

Abstract

Objective This article has reviewed all National IQs survey in Thai children in past 22 years.

Materials and methods Searching by using by Keywords are Intelligence Quotient survey, and Thai children in electronic data and published papers during 1989-2008, and used the content analysis.

Results Seven large and signifi cantly surveys were found. The main surveys were collected from primary school aged 6-13, used the stratifi ed three-stages cluster sampling. The IQ instruments were Thai Intelligence screening test TONI-2, TONI-3 and WISC-III. Field surveyors depend on the studies, some use primary health professionals, some use clinical psychologists in their studies. The results have shown that mean IQs of Thai young children aged 3-5 have higher mean IQ (110.7) and children aged 6-18 are between 88 and 98.4. Bangkok was often found the highest mean IQ, while northern region and southern region were found the lowest mean IQs. Mean IQ score of children in city and urban show higher score than in rural are. Girls tend to have higher IQ score than boys in all studies.

Conclusion The previous national IQs surveys show that school aged children have IQs below 100, and also less than toddlers. However, the result can’t conclude that Thai children get lower IQs when grow up due to the different populations in each study and also used different measurements in each time, resulting unable to compare the results. Thus government should set the standard for the national IQs survey and timing for the purpose of plans and Intelligence problem plans of Thai people.