Sponsor and Support

Commissioned by the Cognitive Sciences and Technologies Development HQ under the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy; a flagship national psychometrics project.

Importance and Distinction

• First national, culturally adapted intelligence tool for ages 2–adult.
• Developed on CHC theory and advanced IRT/Rasch models.
• Fully adapted to Iran’s linguistic, cultural, and educational context.
• Precise instrument for clinical, educational, organizational, and policy uses.

Process and Phases

1. Adaptation & Development: translation/redesign, pilots, Rasch analysis, expert review.
2. Validation & Reliability: quota sampling, large-scale admin, CTT/IRT/Rasch analyses.
3. Standardization & Norming: final admin, national norms, CFA vs. original SB5.

Methods

• Rasch, IRT, CTT, and CFA.

Final Outcome

Nationally standardized ISB5 measuring five domains verbally and non-verbally; now the only nationally normed intelligence test in Iran.

Sponsor and Support

Supported by the Cognitive Sciences HQ and the Vice-Presidency.

Importance and Innovation

• First national brief tools: MAHPAD (4–6) and ISIS (12–18).
• Built on CHC with IRT and Rasch methods.
• Fully adapted linguistically, visually, and culturally.
• Modular, fast, cost-effective for schools/clinics.

Process

1. Background and needs assessment.
2. Conceptual design and item development (CHC + working memory).
3. Pilots and refinement with IRT/Rasch and expert reviews.
4. National validation with CTT/IRT/Rasch.
5. Standardization, norming, final materials.

Features

• ISIS: fluid/verbal/quantitative/visual–spatial reasoning; schools/counseling.
• MAHPAD: knowledge/quantitative/fluid/working memory; preschools/clinics.
• Flexible admin; < 20 minutes; manual/online scoring.
• Child-friendly and counselor-friendly; nationally supported.

Final Outcome

National innovative tools filling a major gap and providing a model for future localized instruments; now official and widely used.

The Hooshbahr Psychometric Research Center, in collaboration with the Child Foundation, has implemented a large-scale national project. The project, launched in 2020 and still ongoing, was designed to identify and evaluate the educational, psychological, and social status of children and adolescents supported by the Foundation. To date, more than 8,000 children and adolescents have been assessed. The main focus of the project has been on monitoring academic abilities, challenges, needs, and psychological capacities of children across different regions of the country.

Key Objectives

• Identifying academic and cognitive strengths and challenges of supported children.
• Examining psychological and social factors influencing academic achievement.
• Evaluating family and environmental conditions as key variables in child development.
• Establishing a national database to monitor educational and psychological conditions of children over time.

Method

The project was conducted using validated psychometric tools and a multi-stage approach:

• Designing and administering standardized educational and cognitive assessments.
• Collecting data from thousands of children and adolescents across age groups and regions.
• Analyzing data with advanced statistical techniques and psychometric models (e.g., multivariate models and Item Response Theory).
• Delivering interim and final analytical reports to the Child Foundation to support evidence-based educational and welfare policymaking.

Outcomes and Added Value

• Providing a comprehensive overview of the educational and psychological status of children in Iran.
• Offering scientific solutions to improve learning and educational processes for supported children.
• Identifying regions and groups with special educational or psychological needs for better resource allocation.
• Creating a scientific foundation for the Child Foundation's developmental programs at the national level.

The Hooshbahr Psychometric Research Center, in collaboration with Tose'e Honar Iran Company, has designed and conducted a nationwide project on consumer behavior regarding cultural and visual-artistic products. The main objective of this research was to identify preferences, interests, needs, and limitations of society in consuming visual cultural products (such as films, TV series, documentaries, television programs, podcasts, books, etc.) and to provide an accurate picture of the current and desired patterns of cultural consumption in Iran.

Key Objectives

• Assessing the current and desired status of online visual product consumption.
• Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of existing services, including VOD platforms, home video distribution networks, cinema, and other channels.
• Classifying consumer behavior based on demographic variables (age, gender, socio-economic status, education, internet access, access to digital tools, and geographical region) and content-related variables (type of need, structure, genre, attractiveness, motivations, and reasons for consumption or non-consumption).
• Examining satisfaction and dissatisfaction levels with current services and identifying the driving factors influencing consumer decision-making.

Method

To ensure validity and reliability of the data, the project was conducted with a multi-stage survey design:

1. Pilot Stage: Evaluating the validity of the tools on a sample of 400 participants from different age groups.
2. Main Stage: Data collection from the general population (with a 5,000-person sample) across the country, through diverse methods:
   • In-person surveys using quota sampling and provincial stratification.
   • Online surveys distributed via social media and digital platforms.
   • Email-based surveys targeting specific groups (academics, managers, etc.).
3. Data Analysis: Comprehensive analysis of results based on target groups and comparison across survey methods (online, in-person, electronic).

Outcomes and Added Value

This project, with its national and scientific approach, provided reliable data for cultural and commercial policymaking. Key outcomes include:

• Precise identification of consumer preferences and priorities in the field of culture and arts.
• Analysis of intergenerational and regional differences in cultural consumption patterns.
• Evaluation of customer satisfaction levels with current services and key improvement factors.
• Delivering valuable insights for organizations, cultural institutions, media companies, and marketing managers to optimize production, distribution, and strategy design.