Term
| What is the flaw in the perception of genetic within-group difference vs between-group differences? |
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Definition
- Most striking flaw in genetic argument is the assumption that genetic contributions to within-group differences are same as contribution to between-group differences
- There seems to be more similarity between groups, and more differences within groups
- This clearly cannot be taken for granted – if for example you took a group from a poor third-world rural country with little education, and another from an upmarket US community, then within each group the main determinant of variation might be hereditary, but the main determinant of variation between the groups would be the quality of education.
- Variation is more based on the environment (education, resources and health) and resources available to them rather than genetics |
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Term
| What is the Stereotype threat? |
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Definition
| Notion of self-fulfilling prophecy – if you are part of a group that’s been identified as likely to do badly on tests, this may increase your anxiety when taking the test – and result in you doing badly. |
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Term
| What effect does higher Poverty levels in black communities in USA than in white have on education? |
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Definition
- Schools in black areas may have more difficulty recruiting the best teachers than those in white areas, partly because poverty means that resources at such schools may be poorer.
- So-called stereotype threat |
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Term
| Explain the changes in School from Rural to City study |
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Definition
- Rural Philadelphia in 1940s research which looked at the difference that occurred in children’s IQ testing when they changed school location
- Children in study grew up in 1930’s (during the depression). Classified as being poor, African American children who moved from Philadelphia in to the city
- Found that their IQ increased by half a point for every year they spent at the new school
- Moving to new school didn’t change their genetics, but changed their environment
- New school would have had more resources, higher quality teachers, different type of peers priorities at home (city kids expected to study whereas country kids were likely to come home and help), access to more food (particularly due to lack of farming food due to depression), access to more healthcare, more stimulating |
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Term
| What is the Flynn Effect? |
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Definition
Genetic material isn’t changing but people are performing better in IQ.
- Average IQ increases 3 points every 10 years (Western society)
- Same changes across gender and race |
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Term
| Explain why the Flynn Effect may have occurred |
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Definition
- Daily life is more challenging, therefore as life becomes more challenging we are becoming smarter. E.g. having to know how to work more things, particularly with technology, day to day complexities of having to record more information
- Better access to nutrition (can buy what we want at all times) leading to increase in height, biggest gains have occurred on people with lower and medium intelligence, must have varied across populations even as IQ increases in all of them
- Reasoning ability stressed by IQ tests has gotten better, not IQ itself. The way we engage with complex questions. Technology has led to people thinking more abstract.
- Hybrid vigor
We can see links to these ideas, support for each of these, and we know that this IQ increase is definitely improving, so it could be a mix of these potential explanations. |
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Term
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Definition
| - In terms of genetics, it relates to the inter marriage of different populations (have hardly any genetic similarity). If people in-breed, there is genetics impact that can cause deficits in intelligence level. Hybrid vigor weeds out any recessive genes. |
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Term
| What are some Educational Enrichment Programs? |
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Definition
1. Project Head Start (1960s) and similar
2. Abecedarian Project |
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Term
| What effects did Project Head Start (1960s) and similar projects have on IQ? |
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Definition
- Most show only short-term IQ gains. Increased when they were in the program and a short while after the program.
- Most gains evaporate over time once the child returned to original education |
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Term
| What did Abecedarian Project include and what effects did it have on IQ? |
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Definition
- Enrichment program wanting to increase IQ and their performance
- Wanted to target children who were struggling due to factors such as lack of resources as home, parents lack education, access to healthcare limited
- Intellectual, medical, and nutritional enrichment
- Special day cares 5-6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Helping children learn how to think about a problem
- Covered basis with support in family, health and nutrition etc.
- 5 years before kindergarten
- Discovered a long-term 5-point IQ boost |
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