It has been said that the heritability of learning ability or of intelligence is irrelevant to teachability. In support of this statement we see it pointed out that a child or a group of children show some response to training, and this is held up as evidence against the heritability of intelligence or learning ability. Most estimates of the…

This book on the genetic and environmental influences on intelligence is comprised of the following papers: "The Structure of Intelligence in Relation to the Nature-Nurture Controversy," R. B. Cattell; "Theory of Intelligence," L. G. Humphreys; "Using Measured Intelligence Intelligently," P. R. Merrifield; "Intelligence: Definition, Theory, and…

Reviews the current theories concerning individual differences in cognitive functioning. While some argue that heredity places a genetic cap on intellectual development, others emphasize the dynamic interrelationship between cultural and environmental factors. Concludes that intelligence is more complex than the heredity advocates allow. (MJP)

More and more minority children are making higher test scores, generally, due to a variety of factors. The high IQ minority child, therefore, might be better understood than previously. Most data in this area has been collected on black children and youth although other cultural groups in America are now being studied more closely. These include…

This document comprises three presentations made on March 23 at a symposium sponsored by the Southern Regional Council focusing on Human Intelligence, Social Science and Social Policy. The first of the three parts of the document is the text of the principal presentation, made by Dr. Leon Kamin, Chariman of the Department of Psychology at…

Critically reviews the influential study "Malnutrition and Environmental Enrichment" by Winick et al. (1975) and highlights what are considered to be statistical flaws in its analysis. Data in the classic study of height, weight, and IQ changes in three groups of adopted, malnourished Korean girls are reanalysed and conclusions…

Examines Black social scientists' intellectual efforts, starting in the 1920s, to challenge research conclusions about the innate mental inferiority of Blacks, disclaim the validity of intelligence tests used, and demonstrate the influence of environment on test performance. Finds irony in Black intellectuals' use of the mental tests they…

Swedish longitudinal studies of twins support Scarr-Salapatek's explanation of nature-nurture influences on intelligence. This model predicts more genetic variance in test results for advantaged than disadvantaged groups. Jensen's work, however, suggests equal amounts of variance among different social classes. (Author/CP)

INFLUENCES WHICH HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS PERCEIVE AS AFFECTING THEIR OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS WERE INVESTIGATED. GROUP-ADMINISTERED INTERVIEW SCHEDULES WERE COMPLETED BY 1,068 SENIORS IN 12 HIGH SCHOOLS BASICALLY ATTENDED BY WHITE STUDENTS AND 11 HIGH SCHOOLS PREDOMINANTLY ATTENDED BY NEGRO STUDENTS. DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS WERE…

Three themes have dominated the sociology of education: the sub-cultural thesis, the socio-cultural advantage thesis, and the biogenetic thesis. With regards to the last, one should try to account for differences in the behavior of identifiable social groups by looking for social causes. The relationship between the strength of the bonds attaching…

This paper deals with the issue of black-white differences in cognitive skills. Some authorities attribute these differences to differences in the environments of black and white homes. Others state that the differences are due to differences in genes, i.e., heredity. Scholars holding these two opposing views have become more or less entangled in…

Results of seventh-grade students taking Scholastic Aptitude Test indicate that, by age 13, a large sex difference in mathematical reasoning ability exists; among students scoring greater than 700, boys outnumbered girls 13 to 1. Hypothesized factors thought to influence the difference (such as course taking, attitudes) were not supported by data…

This book is considered to provide a sober, balanced, and scholarly examination of the evidence that bears on the role of genetic and environmental factors in the determination of group differences in ability in the United States. The first chapter provides something of the background and recent history of the concern with racial-ethnic…

This paper critically examines the portions of Arthur Jensen's books, "Genetics and Education" and "Educability and Group Differences," that concern Barbara Burks' 1928 study of adoptive families. Jensen cites the low correlations of children's IQs with measures of home environment from Burks' study as evidence that environment…

The identification of talent, and the understanding of its development and origins in terms of biographical data were investigated. The three central objectives were: to construct separate empirical procedures for Anglos and Blacks to predict certain academic performance criteria; to construct an empirical scoring procedure that could predict…