Hamm v. Smith · ¶154

First, psychometric literature teaches that when an individual has multiple IQ scores, the “higher scores are likely to be more indicative” of a person's intelligence than the lower scores. Frances 31; accord, S. Whitaker, The Stability of IQ in People With Low Intellectual Ability: An Analysis of the Literature, 46 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, No. 2, p. 126 (2008) (Whitaker) (noting it is “likely that the higher result [is] the more accurate”). This asymmetry refects the fact that the possible sources of error in an individual's IQ-test performance, such as uncooperativeness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, malingering, or other mental- health disorders, “will tend to reduce” one's score. Ibid. In contrast, there is “no reason why” an IQ score would overestimate someone's intelligence. Frances 31. This principle counsels against making decisions based on someone's lowest…

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