C. Branton Shearer, Ph.D.
Multiple Intelligences Research and Consulting
1316 S. Lincoln St. Kent, Ohio 44240 330-673-8024
Presented at 105th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association
Chicago, Illinois. August 15, 1997
This paper describes validity, reliability and utility regarding The Multiple Intelligences Developmental Assessment Scales (MIDAS). The MIDAS is a self (or other) completed instrument based upon the theory of multiple intelligences. It consists of seven main scales and 24 subscales to provide a descriptive summary of a person's intellectual disposition in the areas of linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. The MIDAS has been included in the curriculum of a college career exploration class for four years and has been found to increase students' self-awareness to assist in career decision making and major selection.
Reliability
Internal Consistency, Test-Retest, Inter-rater
- Alpha Cronbach (m=.85 range .76 to .87)
- Two rater agreement rates (40% exact, 80% + one category)
- Test - retest (n104) m=.85 range .76 - .92)
- Few sig. diff. between African-American and Caucasian students
Validity
Factor, Concurrent and Criterion Groups
- Field test: in-depth interviews
- Expert item review, scale content
- Item clarity, readability (appx. 6th grade)
- Appropriate correlations with cognitive, achievement and interests tests
- Linguistic & Log-math with Full Scale I.Q. r=.60
- Exploratory Principal Components with Equamax Rotation (8 factors identified)
- Significant differences between contrasted college groups
- Appropriate pattern of MI scores for adult criterion groups
Career Exploration, Counseling and Classroom Programs
- 73% of college students benefit from MIDAS Profile
- Intrapersonal awareness development
- Study Skills development
- Engage "at risk" students
- Vocational education programs
-Teacher self MI assessment
Howard Gardner defines intelligence as...
"...an ability or set of abilities that allows a person to solve a problem or create a product that is valued within one or more cultural settings..."
The Multiple Intelligence Developmental Assessment Scales (MIDAS) provides an efficient method of obtaining a descriptive assessment of a student's multiple intelligence profile. The MIDAS is a self report measure of intellectual disposition and may be completed by either the child or a parent. Classroom materials are available that can be used to enhance study skills, self knowledge, instructional approaches, curriculum planning and career development.
"To my knowledge The MIDAS represents the first effort to measure the multiple intelligences, which has been developed according to standard psychometric procedures. Branton Shearer is to be congratulated for the careful and cautious way in which he has created his instrument and offered guidance for its use and interpretation."
Howard Gardner
Harvard University
"I want to let you know how great The MIDAS workshop was! It made me more aware of my
students' abilities. As everyone knows there are always new theories coming out, but I do think The MIDAS is the most complete, reasonable and applicable tool yet developed! Thanks for a great
(and eye-opening) course, and I promise to continue to becoming a better & better MI teacher. "
Chemistry Teacher
Stow High School, Ohio
THE MIDAS consists of . . .
- 119 descriptive questions
- completed via self report or by a family member
- appropriate for ages above 14 (MIDAS-for-KIDS for children)
- 8 main scales
- 23 qualitative subscales
- 3 intellectual style scales (Leadership, Innovative, General Logic)
- easy-to-use scoring service or computer program
- qualitative and quantitative Profile Reports
Interpretative Books and Materials available for classroom and counseling use.
- The MIDAS: Professional Manual - The MIDAS Teacher's Handbook: MI in the Classroom
- Stepping Stones: A Teacher's Workbook - Stepping Stones: A MIDAS Workbook for MI
- The Challenge! A Guide to Career Success - Common Miracles in the Classroom
- Creating ExtraOrdinary Teachers: MI in the Classroom www.continuumbooks.com/Books .
- MIndful Education for ADHD Students http://store.tcpress.com
- MI At 25: Assessing the Impact of Multiple Intelligences www.tcpress.com
