Most confusing concepts on Test 6: thinking, language, intelligence and testing

1. Most confusing concepts on Test 6: thinking, language, intelligence and testing 30. When English-speaking Canadian children were taught only in French during their early school years, researchers found that they experienced a(n) A) confused sense of cultural identity. B) improvement in intellectual aptitude. C) slight loss of verbal fluency in English. • smaller-than-average improvement in mathematical ability. This question is in contrast to the following fact: Students who are put into an ESL program do better if they are taught part time in native language and part time in new language than those put in total immersion classes. What is the difference between these 2 scenarios? EARLY SCHOOL YEARS vs. trying to learn in second language later in life.

2. Heritability is a number (between 0 and 1) that states how much genes play a role in creating variation for a given trait between 2 groups High numbers mean the variation in the trait between the 2 groups is due in large part to the fact they have differences in genes Low numbers mean the variation in the trait between the 2 groups is due in large part to the fact they have differences in experiences/environments Heritability Heritability does NOT tell you what % of a person’s trait is due to genes vs. environment!! If IQ is 70% heritable, that does NOT mean 70% of your IQ score is due to your genes while 30% of your IQ score is due to your experiences If IQ is 70% heritable it means that the reason there is variation between your IQ score and that of person X is 70% attributable to the fact you vary genetically from one another and 30% due to the fact you have had different experiences

3. The heritability between 2 identical twins must always be 0 Any variation between identical twins on a given trait must be due to differences in experiences because they cannot have any differences in genes!! If we examine 100 pairs of identical twins and find that each set of twins is identical for a given trait (say irritability), we would say that heritability for irritability is 100% (or 1.0) because any difference between people is due to fact they have different genes. If a trait is highly heritable, it means that difference in genes between 2 people OR 2 groups of people is the main reason for variation in that trait Height is highly heritable (+.7 or 70%) Difference between group A and group B is 70% attributable to fact they have different genes (group A is genetically related, group B is genetically related) Environmental differences account for 30% of the variation between groups A & B As the environmental differences become more dramatic (differences in nutrition, health care), we would expect heritability for height to DECREASE

4. Group A has a mean IQ score of 115 • Group B mean IQ score of 85 • If both groups A and B live in high socioeconomic environments, the variation in their means would be attributable to differences in genetics because environments are similar for both groups • Conclusion: Heritability for intelligence INCREASES as we compare groups from similar environments • If group A lives in high socioeconomic environment and group B in low socioeconomic environment, we would say environmental differences play large role in differences in IQ scores • Heritability for intelligence DECREASES as we compare groups from diverse environments Heritability for any given trait is NOT constant!! The number depends upon the 2 groups being compared— are they genetically related? do they live in similar or dissimilar environments?

5. Studies show differences in life experiences are greatest between low and high socioeconomic groups AND within a group of children whose parents are low educated. Heritability for intelligence is LOW when we compare people being raised by low educated parents because their environments may vary greatly. Heritability for intelligence is LOW when we compare people from high socioeconomic groups to those from low socioeconomic groups because differences in environments are high.

6. Twins & adoption studies & heritability of IQ Children raised in same family can show high variation in IQ between each other and compared to their parents • Correlation in IQ for children with in a family: • INCREASES as children are more genetically similar • INCREASES if children are same age • DECREASES as children are genetically dissimilar • Correlation in IQ between children and their parents: • INCREASES as children age if children and parents biologically related • DECREASES as children age if children and parents NOT biologically related Conclusions: Genetically similar people are more similar in IQ than genetically dissimilar people People being raised in a similar environment are more similar in IQ than those being raised in a dissimilar environment Environment can vary within a family due to age and gender of children

7. 23. The heritability of intelligence among children of less-educated parents is relatively A) low due to the relatively small differences in their environmental settings. B) low due to the relatively large differences in their environmental settings. C) high due to the relatively small differences in their environmental settings. D) high due to the relatively large differences in their environmental settings 24. The heritability of intelligence is greatest among A) genetically similar individuals who have been raised in similar environments. B) genetically similar individuals who have been raised in dissimilar environments. C) genetically dissimilar individuals who have been raised in similar environments. D) genetically dissimilar individuals who have been raised in dissimilar environments.

8. 25. The intelligence scores of adopted children are LEAST likely to correlate positively with the intelligence scores of their A) adoptive parents. B) biological parents. C) biologically related siblings. D) biologically unrelated siblings. 54. Which of the following observations provides the best evidence that intelligence test scores are influenced by environment? A) Fraternal twins are more similar in their intelligence scores than are ordinary siblings. B) The intelligence scores of children are positively correlated with those of their parents. C) Identical twins are more similar in their intelligence scores than are fraternal twins. • The intelligence scores of siblings reared together are positively correlated. 63. The similarity between intelligence scores of fraternal twins reared together is A) equal to that between identical twins reared apart. B) less than that between children and their biological parents. C) equal to that between ordinary siblings reared together. D) less than that between identical twins reared apart.

9. Validity and reliability • Validity: Does the test measure what it says it will? Does it accurately identify a person’s current traits or predict future performance? • ACT is an aptitude test that is supposed to predict future performance in college • IF ACT is a valid test, it should show a positive correlation between prediction and students’ performance in college • A test for ADHD is supposed to indicate likelihood person has or doesn’t have ADHD. • If people who do NOT have ADHD get the same score as those that do, the test is NOT valid. • Reliability: Does the test deliver consistent results? • If Jenny takes the ACT twice, are her scores similar on both attempts? IF not, is it because she took a course to prepare her to increase her score? • If we look at the score Jenny received on the first half of a test and the second half, is it similar?

10. 55. If both depressed and nondepressed individuals receive similar scores on a diagnostic test for depression, it suggests that the test A) has not been standardized. B) is not valid. C) is not reliable. D) has not been factor-analyzed. 56. The relatively restricted range of intelligence among the college seniors who take the Graduate Record Exam serves to ________ the ________ of the Graduate Record Exam. A) increase; reliability B) decrease; predictive validity C) increase; the normal distribution D) decrease; the standardization sample