Chapter 15 - Race and Intelligence

Summary

The concept of race itself is intensely debated in the social and behavioral sciences, with some subscribing to the notion that it represents a biological fact. As with race, there is no universally accepted definition of intelligence. Admittedly, intelligence testing has come a long way in the past 100 years. Developers of modern tests of cognitive ability have attempted to achieve culture neutrality and tap a broader spectrum of underlying skills, and IQ has become a far more psychometrically sophisticated concept. The relationship between IQ and socioeconomic status (SES) is only one argument challenging hereditarian assumptions about the largely genetic nature of intelligence. Continued research on race and intelligence is important, particularly with regard to the etiology of differences in IQ scores. In conducting studies of this nature, however, investigators must be objective, comprehensive, and cautious, given the potential for divisiveness and far-reaching sociopolitical implications.