Final answer:
The first neuropsychological tests, such as the one developed by Alfred Binet, were designed to measure intelligence and mental abilities to predict academic performance and identify children who might face difficulties in school. These tests included verbally based tasks and were later standardized and expanded for use in military and clinical contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first neuropsychological tests were designed to assess intelligence and mental abilities. Sir Francis Galton developed the first broad test of intelligence in the late 1800s, which influenced later works. Alfred Binet, in response to a need from the French government, created a test that focused on verbally based tasks to identify children who might face difficulties in school. The goal was to measure intelligence to predict academic performance. Louis Terman later standardized Binet's work, resulting in the creation of a normed and standardized intelligence test, which means that the test was administered consistently across a large representative sample and could produce consistent results or reliability.
In addition to educational purposes, during World War I, intelligence testing was expanded to the military context. Yerkes, the president of the APA, and his group developed the Army Alpha and Beta tests for screening enlisted men. These tests were used to measure mental abilities and for personnel selection. Similarly, David Wechsler created the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale by combining subtests from other intelligence tests, aiming to measure a variety of verbal and nonverbal skills. These subtests were premised on the idea that intelligence involves the capacity to act purposefully, think rationally, and effectively engage with one's environment.