Reference no: EM133534897

Smarts and Performance in Sports:

Intelligence in its various forms is important because of its link to performance. Research and experience do not always support this link-the smartest are not necessarily the best performers in any arena. However, most believe it influences performance enough to test and select candidates based on IQ and other measures of intelligence. Perhaps you should consider it too.

Intelligence Testing in Football: Not only does the National Football League have an intelligence test for players, but it has been using it since the 1970s! The Dallas Cowboys began the practice with the popular Wonderlic test (50 questions with a 12-minute time limit). The test is administered at the Combine where new recruits are "interviewed" to assess physical and intellectual capabilities. Player scores are one factor considered by teams in the draft.

Only one player has had a perfect score so far-wide receiver Pat McInally of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976 to 1985. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick seemingly has "smarts" no matter how you measure it. He scored 48 on the Wonderlic (the third-best score of all time), completed the test in the shortest time ever and also scored 1580 out of 1600 on his SAT.

Smarts aren't limited to QBs. Sam Acho, a linebacker in the NFL, speaks three languages and was awarded the Campbell Trophy for college football's top scholar-athlete when he attended the University of Texas. Christian Wilkins, while a defensive lineman at Clemson also won this award, and he finished his bachelor's degree in only two and half years-and completed a masters too!

New Test and Other Sports: Multiple NFL, NBA, and MLB teams have recently trialed a new test-the Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ). This test assesses how fast a player can acquire, process, and apply information. The idea or hope is these characteristics are better predictors of performance in sports, compared to a more general aptitude test such as the Wonderlic. Baker Mayfield was reported to have the second highest score of the 63 college quarterbacks who have now taken the AIQ.

Question 1: Assume your employer uses such tests, and you are a hiring manager, how much weight would you give intellectual intelligence? Explain.

Question 2: If you owned your own company justify both why you would and why would not use intelligence tests in the hiring process.