Discovering Multiple Intelligences through a Performance-Based Assessment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consistency between performance-based DISCOVER (Discovering Intellectual Strengths and Capabilities through Observation while allowing for Varied Ethnic Responses) assessment reports and two independent ratings (teacher, observer) in appraising students' multiple intelligences through specific activities. The comparison showed that the three accounts depicted similar results concerning the participants' strengths and weaknesses in spatial, logical-mathematical, and linguistic intelligences giving reason to believe that when intelligences are assessed through specific activities, the DISCOVER assessment observers were effective. However, the effectiveness of the DISCOVER assessment observers was low in appraising the intelligences not measured through specific tasks, namely bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligences. Specific tasks to appraise those intelligences should be devised for an effective and credible assessment of students' abilities throughout the whole spectrum of intelligences.