Nation of Morons

By Will and Abbie

Theory

The Exposed fundamental problems involved The Exposed fundamental problems involved in the attempts to measure intelligence. Due in the attempts to measure intelligence. Due to race?to race?

Hypothesis

Using a intelligence test as an example of a Using a intelligence test as an example of a psychometric test in that it is an instrument psychometric test in that it is an instrument devised for measuring mental characteristics. devised for measuring mental characteristics. For the results to be white as a dominant race For the results to be white as a dominant race vs the Black race. vs the Black race.

Background

Intelligence testing has and still does create Intelligence testing has and still does create considerable controversy. One of the most considerable controversy. One of the most discussed debates around intelligence is discussed debates around intelligence is whether the differences between individuals whether the differences between individuals can be explained by genetic or environmental can be explained by genetic or environmental causes. causes.

Alfred Binet –Alfred Binet –

Developed the first tests of intelligence in Developed the first tests of intelligence in France, where he devised intelligence tests to France, where he devised intelligence tests to identify children in need of special education. identify children in need of special education. Binet believed that children who were in need of Binet believed that children who were in need of extra help could be identifies by these tests, but extra help could be identifies by these tests, but importantly he argued that intelligence is not a importantly he argued that intelligence is not a fixed quantity and that it can be improved by fixed quantity and that it can be improved by further help. Subsequently, Binet’s ideas have further help. Subsequently, Binet’s ideas have led to the development of intelligence quotient. led to the development of intelligence quotient. (IQ)(IQ)

However, other supporters of intelligence However, other supporters of intelligence testing became scientist who believed that testing became scientist who believed that individual differences are mainly due to genetic individual differences are mainly due to genetic factors, and that a society could, using mass factors, and that a society could, using mass intelligence testing, scientifically breed a intelligence testing, scientifically breed a superior group of people ( this is referred to as superior group of people ( this is referred to as eugenics)eugenics)

Thos scientists in favor of eugenics arguments Thos scientists in favor of eugenics arguments believe that they should identify the less believe that they should identify the less intelligent and prevent them from having intelligent and prevent them from having children. They believe that a consequence of children. They believe that a consequence of this is that the genetic stock of the population this is that the genetic stock of the population will be improved.will be improved.

Yerks - a Psychologist who believed that Yerks - a Psychologist who believed that intelligence was a fixed quantity and he set intelligence was a fixed quantity and he set out to carry out one of the largest test of out to carry out one of the largest test of intelligence in history. This study is a summary intelligence in history. This study is a summary of an article written by Gould who exposed of an article written by Gould who exposed many of the problems with Yerkes’ intelligence many of the problems with Yerkes’ intelligence testing.testing.

1915 mental testing believed intelligence 1915 mental testing believed intelligence testing should be as rigorous as any other testing should be as rigorous as any other science science

1915 ment 1915 ment

Procedure

An intelligence test is an example of a An intelligence test is an example of a psychometric test in that it is an instrument psychometric test in that it is an instrument devised for measuring mental characteristics.devised for measuring mental characteristics.

During the First World War Yerks found an During the First World War Yerks found an opportunity to promote the use and status of opportunity to promote the use and status of mental testing and therefore the status of mental testing and therefore the status of psychology as a serious science. He got psychology as a serious science. He got permission to carry out mental tests to over permission to carry out mental tests to over 1.75 million army recruits.1.75 million army recruits.

Army Alpha-Army Alpha-

A written test for literate recruits. The alpha A written test for literate recruits. The alpha test had eight parts, such as analogies, filling test had eight parts, such as analogies, filling in the missing number, and unscrambling a in the missing number, and unscrambling a sentence. These types of tests have now sentence. These types of tests have now become in modern IQ tests.become in modern IQ tests.

Army Beta –Army Beta –

A pictorial test for men who were illiterate of A pictorial test for men who were illiterate of who failed the alpha. The beta test had seven who failed the alpha. The beta test had seven parts including running a maze, number work parts including running a maze, number work and the picture completion task.and the picture completion task.

Individual Examination – An individual spoken Individual Examination – An individual spoken test for men who failed the beta.test for men who failed the beta.

The Alpha and Beta tests could be The Alpha and Beta tests could be administered to large groups and took less administered to large groups and took less than an hour to complete. than an hour to complete.

Three ‘Three ‘factsfacts’ were discovered from the intelligence ’ were discovered from the intelligence testing.:testing.:

The average mental age of White American adults was The average mental age of White American adults was 13.  The score of 13 was at the top of the category of 13.  The score of 13 was at the top of the category of ‘moronity’.   That is why the title of the article is ‘A ‘moronity’.   That is why the title of the article is ‘A Nation of Morons’, because the ‘Nation of Morons’, because the ‘datadata’ showed that the ’ showed that the USA was just that.  Terman had previously set the USA was just that.  Terman had previously set the standard at 16.standard at 16.

It was possible to grade European immigrants by their It was possible to grade European immigrants by their country of origin.  The average man of many countries country of origin.  The average man of many countries was a moron, with the fair people of Northern and was a moron, with the fair people of Northern and Western Europe scoring higher than the Slavs of Western Europe scoring higher than the Slavs of Eastern Europe and the darker people of Southern Eastern Europe and the darker people of Southern Europe. (The average Russian had a mental age of Europe. (The average Russian had a mental age of 11.34; the Italian, 11.01; the Pole, 10.74).11.34; the Italian, 11.01; the Pole, 10.74).

The average score of Black men was 10.4, which was The average score of Black men was 10.4, which was considerably below the White average. considerably below the White average.

Explanations

The ‘The ‘findingfinding’ that the average White ’ that the average White American was a moron did cause some American was a moron did cause some concern.  However most concern was in concern.  However most concern was in response to the other two ‘response to the other two ‘factsfacts’. ’.

Similarly it was argued that the average Similarly it was argued that the average scores from the different national groups scores from the different national groups reflected innate racial differences. reflected innate racial differences.

Criticisms of Procedure

These are Gould’s criticisms of Yerkes’ These are Gould’s criticisms of Yerkes’ procedure.procedure.

Crisco is a: patent medicine, disinfectant, Crisco is a: patent medicine, disinfectant, toothpaste, food product toothpaste, food product

Washington is to Adams as first is to . . .Washington is to Adams as first is to . . .

Christy Mathewson is famous as a: writer, artist, Christy Mathewson is famous as a: writer, artist, baseball player, comedian.baseball player, comedian.

Gould identified many problems with the mass Gould identified many problems with the mass intelligence testing. In particular he pointed to intelligence testing. In particular he pointed to the cultural bias in the tests. The level of the cultural bias in the tests. The level of cultural and educational knowledge required is cultural and educational knowledge required is very obvious in the examples from the Alpha very obvious in the examples from the Alpha tests.tests.

Similarly the Beta test also required a level of Similarly the Beta test also required a level of cultural and educational knowledge to be cultural and educational knowledge to be completed successfully.  For example, recent completed successfully.  For example, recent immigrants would have to be familiar with immigrants would have to be familiar with phonograms, tennis courts and light bulbs.phonograms, tennis courts and light bulbs.

Another problem was that even the Beta test Another problem was that even the Beta test required the use of pencil and the writing of required the use of pencil and the writing of numbers, and many men had never even seen numbers, and many men had never even seen or used a pencil before.or used a pencil before.

Gould argues that with such problems, the Gould argues that with such problems, the data should be looked at with considerable data should be looked at with considerable scepticism.scepticism.

Evaluation of Explanation

Gould clearly shows some of the ridiculous and Gould clearly shows some of the ridiculous and racist explanations put forward by Yerkes and his racist explanations put forward by Yerkes and his colleagues.colleagues.

For example, in trying to explain the low average For example, in trying to explain the low average scores for Jewish men despite the very many major scores for Jewish men despite the very many major accomplishments of Jewish scholars, statesmen accomplishments of Jewish scholars, statesmen and performing artists. Brigham argued that we and performing artists. Brigham argued that we notice the exceptional performance of some Jews notice the exceptional performance of some Jews (for example, Einstein) because it is unusual (for example, Einstein) because it is unusual against the performance of the average Jew.against the performance of the average Jew.

There were two major problems with the data. There were two major problems with the data. First, the immigration of different national groups First, the immigration of different national groups had taken place at different times, and the most had taken place at different times, and the most recent immigrants, and hence the least familiar recent immigrants, and hence the least familiar with English, were the Slavs and the people from with English, were the Slavs and the people from Southern Europe. So if literacy was having an Southern Europe. So if literacy was having an effect on the test scores then these people would effect on the test scores then these people would be disadvantaged. be disadvantaged.

Secondly, the data showed that the average score Secondly, the data showed that the average score rose with length of residence in the USA. This is a rose with length of residence in the USA. This is a clear indication that the more experience a person clear indication that the more experience a person had of the USA the higher their score on the test,had of the USA the higher their score on the test,

Bibliography

Gould, S.J. (1982) A nation of morons. Gould, S.J. (1982) A nation of morons. New Scientist (6 May 1982), 349 – 52New Scientist (6 May 1982), 349 – 52

http://www.holah.karoo.net/gouldstudy.htmhttp://www.holah.karoo.net/gouldstudy.htm