Page 369 - Understanding Psychology

Your IQ
Can we say that you do well in school because you have a high IQ? Consider this: a baseball player has a low batting average. A fan explains that the player does not get a lot of hits because he has a low batting average. Is this statement true? No, that baseball player has a low batting average because he does not get a lot of hits. In the same way, we cannot say that a student does poorly in school because he has a low IQ score. IQ tests measure the same skills that schoolwork requires. An IQ score measures per- formance; it does not explain it.
those problems or to question the validity of problems posed by others (Hoffman, 1962). This is only part of the reason why IQ testing is so controversial.
CONTROVERSY OVER IQ TESTING
Much of the debate about IQ testing centers around the following issues: do genetic differences or envi- ronmental inequalities cause two peo- ple to receive different scores on intelligence tests? The question of cultural bias in intelligence tests has also been controversial.
Nature vs. Nurture
A technique researchers use to help determine whether genetics or environment affects scores on intelligence tests is studying the results of testing of people with varying degrees of genetic relationship. In regard to intelligence, researchers have found a high degree of heritability—
heritability: the degree to which a characteristic is related to inherited genetic factors
Figure 13.9 Distribution of IQ Scores
This normal curve displays intelligence as measured by IQ tests. The average IQ score is 100. What percentage of people score at least 145 on IQ tests?
Mentally handicapped Borderline
Slow learner
Low average
High average Above average Superior Gifted
55 70 80 90 100110120130145 50%
95%
99%
Chapter
13 / Psychological Testing 355