Question 1

The fact that the correlation in IQ scores between identical twins reared apart is higher than that between fraternal twins reared together suggests that intellectual development is

Accepted Answer

The fact that the IQ scores correlation between identical twins reared apart is higher than that of fraternal twins reared together implies that the intellectual development has a strong genetic influence. If the intellectual development was more influenced by environmental factors, the correlation in IQ scores would be higher in twins reared together, regardless of whether they are fraternal or identical.

Question 2

If a large research study measured the IQs of white middle-class American females and middle-class Japanese males, it is most likely that measures of heritability for the two groups would be

Accepted Answer

Heritability can vary from one group to another due to environmental factors and genetic differences between populations. Therefore, it is likely that the measures of heritability for the two groups would be different.

Question 3

The fact that the correlation in IQ scores between identical twins reared apart is lower than that between identical twins reared together suggests that

Accepted Answer

The lower correlation in IQ scores between identical twins reared apart suggests that environmental factors can have an influence on intellectual development, in addition to genetic factors.

Question 4

Most intelligence tests over the years have tended to stress

Accepted Answer

Most intelligence tests have traditionally emphasized verbal and reasoning skills related to academics, such as vocabulary, reading comprehension, and problem-solving abilities. While some tests may include measures of practical or social intelligence, these skills are often considered to be subsidiary to general mental ability, which is primarily assessed through measures of verbal and analytical reasoning.

Question 5

Correlations between students' IQ scores and their school grades suggest that IQ tests

Accepted Answer

Correlations between students' IQ scores and their school grades suggest that there is a reasonably valid relationship between IQ and school performance. However, it is important to note that IQ is not the only factor that influences school performance and there may be other variables at play.

Question 6

Adoption studies provide support for the influence of

Accepted Answer

Adoption studies provide support for the influence of both environmental and genetic factors on intelligence. These studies involve comparing the IQ scores of adopted children with the IQ scores of their biological and adoptive parents. Studies have shown that adopted children's IQ scores are more strongly correlated with those of their biological parents than with those of their adoptive parents. This suggests that genetic factors play a role in intelligence. However, environmental factors also play a role, as adopted children often experience a different environment from their biological parents, and their IQ scores can be influenced by factors such as the quality of their adoptive home and education.

Question 7

If environment affects intelligence, you should predict that the IQs of children who stay in understaffed orphanages will

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that children who grow up in understaffed orphanages, with minimal social interaction or stimulation, often experience a decline in cognitive abilities over time. This is likely due to the lack of environmental stimulation and nurturing experiences that support healthy brain development.

Question 8

The person who is sensitive to others' needs and accepts others for who they are is evidencing the ____ type of intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Social intelligence involves the ability to understand and navigate social situations and relationships, including empathy, intuition, and interpersonal skills. This type of intelligence allows a person to be sensitive to others' needs and accept them for who they are. The other answer choices do not necessarily relate to this specific trait.

Question 9

Experts estimate that the heritability of intelligence is approximately 50%.This suggests that

Accepted Answer

Heritability refers to the extent to which differences in a trait within a population can be attributed to genetic differences. In this case, the estimate of heritability for intelligence means that 50% of the variability in intelligence within a population of individuals can be attributed to differences in genetic inheritance. It does not mean that 50% of a person's individual intelligence is explained by genetics, as intelligence is also shaped by environmental factors. Additionally, heritability estimates do not provide information about differences in intelligence between ethnic groups.

Question 10

Convincing evidence for the role of environmental influences on intelligence is provided by studies that compare

Accepted Answer

Studies that compare adopted children to their adoptive parents provide evidence for the role of environmental influences on intelligence, as the adoptive parents are not genetically related to the child, but share the same environment. Studies that compare adopted children to their biological parents also provide evidence, but it is difficult to disentangle genetic and environmental influences in such studies. Comparing children reared by their biological parents to their biological parents would not provide much evidence for environmental influences, as the children share both genes and environment with their biological parents. Similarly, comparing identical twins reared together and fraternal twins reared together would not allow for much differentiation of genetic and environmental influences, as both types of twins are reared together and share many environmental influences.

Question 11

The best evidence supporting the role of genetic factors in intelligence is provided by studies that compare

Accepted Answer

Studies that compare identical and fraternal twins provide the best evidence for the role of genetic factors in intelligence. Identical twins share 100% of their genes, while fraternal twins share only 50% on average. If intelligence is largely determined by genetics, then identical twins should have more similar IQ scores than fraternal twins. This has been consistently found in numerous twin studies, providing strong evidence for the role of genetics in intelligence.

Question 12

Coleman is currently 30 years old.When he was 15 years old, he took an intelligence test and was told that his IQ score was 110.If Coleman retakes the intelligence test now, he would likely discover that his current IQ score

Accepted Answer

IQ scores are designed to have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, which means that the average IQ score for any given age group is always around 100. Since Coleman has aged 15 years, his IQ score may have changed slightly, but it is unlikely to have changed significantly. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Coleman's current IQ score would be similar to his previous score of 110.

Question 13

Which of the following is an expression of the nurture side of the nature versus nurture argument?

Accepted Answer

Choice D states that an intellectually stimulating environment can lead to noticeable increases in the IQs of disadvantaged children, which is an expression of the nurture side of the nature versus nurture argument. This suggests that the environment has an important role in shaping intellectual potential, and that with the right kind of support, children from disadvantaged backgrounds can overcome their initial deficits and achieve better outcomes. The other choices tend to emphasize the role of nature or innate potential, rather than the importance of environmental factors.

Question 14

The use of intelligence tests in making employment hiring decisions

Accepted Answer

The use of intelligence tests in making employment hiring decisions is a controversial practice as it has been challenged for being biased towards certain groups and not accurately assessing job performance. Therefore, it is considered a questionable practice.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the influence of culture on the use of IQ tests is MOST accurate?

Accepted Answer

Different cultures have different conceptions of what intelligence is. IQ tests are heavily influenced by the cultural values, experiences, and knowledge of the individuals taking the test. Therefore, different cultures may have different ways of defining intelligence and measuring it, which can impact the validity and reliability of the tests. Additionally, some researchers argue that IQ tests may be biased towards Western cultural values and experiences, which could create inaccuracies when assessing the intelligence of individuals from non-Western cultures.

Question 16

Which of the following six-year-old children would be MOST likely to experience an increase in their IQ over the next few years?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that children who are adopted from adverse environments, such as understaffed orphanages, and placed in loving homes with more resources and stimulation are likely to experience significant increases in their IQ over time. Therefore, Cathy would be the most likely to experience an increase in her IQ over the next few years.

Question 17

The fact that adopted children resemble their biological parents in intelligence, even though they were not reared by those parents suggests that intellectual development is

Accepted Answer

The fact that adopted children resemble their biological parents in intelligence suggests that intellectual development is influenced more by genetics than by environmental factors.

Question 18

Which of the following statements BEST characterises the current view regarding the use of tests to predict vocational success?

Accepted Answer

There is an ongoing debate regarding the use of IQ tests in predicting vocational success. Some argue that these tests unfairly discriminate against certain groups and are not an accurate predictor of job performance, while others believe they can be useful in identifying strong candidates. While it is not illegal to use mental ability tests in hiring, employers must ensure they are not discriminatory and have been shown to be reliable and valid predictors of job performance.

Question 19

If the differences in IQ scores among people were entirely a result of genetic factors, you would expect to find that the correlation in IQ scores would be

Accepted Answer

If the differences in IQ scores were entirely due to genetic factors, the environment would have no effect on these scores. Therefore, identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) would have the same correlation in IQ scores regardless of whether they were reared together or apart, as their IQs would be influenced solely by their genetics.

Question 20

Adoption studies comparing the intelligence of adopted children to their ____ provide support for the role of genetic factors in intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Adoption studies compare the intelligence of adopted children to their biological parents, rather than their adoptive parents, to determine the role of genetic factors in intelligence. If biological parents have greater intelligence, this suggests a genetic influence.

Quiz 9: Human Intelligence