Final answer:
Conflict theorists criticize IQ tests for being culturally biased, favoring students with exposure to certain knowledge tied to upper-class culture, thus not accurately reflecting an individual's true intelligence. Challenges such as socioeconomic status can impact test performance, making the fairness and validity of IQ tests disputed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Criticism of IQ Tests from a Conflict Theorist Perspective
IQ tests have been a subject of controversy for many years, particularly among conflict theorists. A significant criticism is that IQ tests may reflect social and cultural biases rather than an individual's innate intelligence. According to conflict theorists, these tests tend to favor those who have been exposed to certain cultural knowledge associated with upper-class culture, which can be attributed to more affluent upbringings. For instance, a question about orchestral instruments within an IQ test might disadvantage a student who has not had the exposure to classical music, thus reflecting cultural knowledge rather than raw intelligence capacity.
This criticism ties into a broader perspective that IQ tests maintain existing power structures by inadvertently benefitting those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Furthermore, studies have shown that children living in poverty might perform differently on IQ tests due to the stress and challenges associated with their living conditions, which can impact brain development and function. Hence, the validity of IQ tests in measuring true intelligence remains a contested issue. Ultimately, the debate continues on how to accurately measure intelligence and ensure that IQ tests serve as fair and valid measures of a person's cognitive abilities.