Lecture 14 - Jensen Flashcards
What was Arthur Jensen’s primary area of research?
Arthur Jensen primarily focused on intelligence, its measurement, and the genetic and environmental influences on cognitive differences.
What major legal change in 1954 impacted education in the U.S. during Jensen’s career?
The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 ended segregation in education.
What was the main goal of the Head Start Program (1965)?
The Head Start Program aimed to promote physical and emotional well-being, develop strong cognitive skills, and foster stable family relationships in low-income children.
What was the main finding of Jensen’s 1968 study on children from different SES backgrounds?
Jensen found that low-SES children (including African American and Mexican American) with low IQ measures outperformed middle/upper-SES children with the same IQ scores on certain tasks.
What discrepancy did Jensen find between low-SES and high-SES children on IQ tests?
Jensen found that IQ was highly correlated with learning in middle/upper-SES children, but there was a low (non-significant) correlation in low-SES children.
What is the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test, and how did it relate to Jensen’s research?
The Raven’s Progressive Matrices test is a culture-free IQ test that uses patterns rather than language. Jensen’s research showed large differences between groups even on these tests, suggesting cultural or environmental influences on IQ.
Why did Jensen shift his focus to genetics in the 1960s?
Jensen shifted focus to genetics because he believed that genetic differences might explain racial and socioeconomic disparities in IQ, particularly when cultural factors were ruled out.
What is the definition of heritability in the context of intelligence?
Heritability refers to the proportion of variation in a trait (like IQ) within a population that can be attributed to genetic differences.
Why was the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test significant in Jensen’s research?
The PPVT was significant because it measured receptive vocabulary and was used to assess cognitive ability across different cultural and educational contexts. Jensen noted that it may have cultural biases.
What was the main reaction to Jensen’s 1969 work on race and IQ?
Jensen faced intense backlash, including protests, death threats, and public outcry, as his views on the genetic basis of racial IQ differences were highly controversial.
What was Jensen’s stance on the relationship between scientific research and societal perceptions?
Jensen argued that “scientific truth” should be prioritized, even if research findings were socially controversial, and that political pressures should not interfere with scientific progress.
What is the Flynn Effect?
The Flynn Effect refers to the observed rise in average IQ scores worldwide by about 3 points per decade, suggesting that environmental factors (such as improved education) contribute to cognitive changes, not just genetics.
What is stereotype threat, and how does it affect performance on IQ tests?
Stereotype threat is the fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s social or racial group, which can lead to decreased performance on IQ tests.
How has our understanding of genetics changed since Jensen’s work in the 1960s?
Modern genetics recognizes that IQ is polygenic (influenced by many genes), with small effects from numerous genetic markers. It also emphasizes the role of environmental factors, making it unlikely that genetic differences alone explain racial IQ gaps.
How has Jensen’s legacy impacted the study of intelligence?
Jensen’s work sparked intense debate on intelligence testing, race, and genetics. While many of his conclusions have been discredited, his research prompted a deeper examination of the role of genetics, environment, and culture in shaping cognitive abilities.
What was the impact of the Head Start Program on IQ scores?
The Head Start Program initially showed positive short-term boosts in IQ scores among low-income children, but the gains were found to fade over time, leading to questions about the long-term effectiveness of such interventions.
What were some key criticisms of Jensen’s conclusions about the genetic basis of racial IQ differences?
Critics argued that Jensen overlooked the impact of environmental factors and cultural biases in IQ testing, and that genetic differences alone could not explain racial disparities in IQ scores.
