Question 1

If we study identical twins who have been separated at birth and reared apart, we can

Accepted Answer

Studying identical twins who have been separated at birth and reared apart allows us to assess the relative contribution of heredity and environment. By comparing their similarities and differences, we can understand how much of their intelligence is due to genetics and how much is due to their upbringing and environment. However, it is important to note that this type of study cannot fully isolate the effects of heredity and environment, as identical twins may share some environmental influences even if they were raised apart.

Question 2

Of the following categories of relationship, the lowest degree of similarity of IQ has been found among

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the lowest degree of similarity of IQ is found among siblings who were reared apart. This is likely due to the fact that environmental factors have a greater impact on IQ than genetic factors. The other options, including A) brothers and sisters reared together, B) identical twins reared apart, and D) identical twins reared together, all show higher degrees of similarity in IQ.

Question 3

The Flynn effect refers to

Accepted Answer

The Flynn effect refers to the huge IQ gains in industrialized countries over the past 50 years, which were first observed by James R. Flynn.

Question 4

Which of the following is not true about identical twins?

Accepted Answer

Identical twins, also known as monozygotic twins, develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two, resulting in two embryos with the exact same genetic material. They are not produced when two eggs are released during ovulation, as with fraternal twins.

Question 5

In the book The Bell Curve, Herrnstein and Murray attribute differences in social status to

Accepted Answer

In "The Bell Curve," Herrnstein and Murray controversially attribute differences in social status primarily to differences in intelligence, as measured by IQ scores, rather than factors like race, education, or environment.

Question 6

The more closely two people are related genetically, the more similar their IQ scores tend to be. This finding provides support for the view that ________ factors play a role in shaping human intelligence.

Accepted Answer

The fact that closely related people (who share many genes) have more similar IQ scores suggests that genetics plays a role in shaping human intelligence. This does not rule out the possibility of environmental factors also playing a role, but the emphasis here is on the genetic component.

Question 7

The twin study method examines the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability by comparing

Accepted Answer

The twin study method compares monozygotic twins (identical) who share 100% of their DNA with dizygotic twins (fraternal) who share only 50% of their DNA, to examine the relative effects of genetics and environment on behaviour and ability. By comparing the characteristics of those two types of twins, researchers can estimate the influence of genetics on behaviour and ability.

Question 8

Which field of research is most interested in the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability?

Accepted Answer

Behavioural genetics is the field of research that focuses on the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors on behaviour and ability. Personality psychology is more concerned with the study of personality traits and characteristics, while biology and genetics encompass a wider range of topics beyond behaviour and ability.

Question 9

Which of the following is not true about fraternal twins?

Accepted Answer

Fraternal twins can be either the same sex or different sexes.

Question 10

The fact that IQ scores for identical twins raised apart are very similar provides evidence for the influence of which of the following upon intelligence?

Accepted Answer

The fact that IQ scores for identical twins raised apart are very similar suggests that heredity plays a significant role in intelligence. If environmental factors were the main influence, we would expect greater variability in IQ scores between identical twins raised apart. While environmental factors certainly play a role in shaping intelligence, this evidence suggests that genetic factors are a primary influence.

Question 11

Since 1979, I have headed research involving the study of over 100 sets of twins and triplets who were reared apart. Who am I?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Bouchard is the only one of the options who has conducted research specifically on twins and triplets who were reared apart. Lewis Terman is known for his work on intelligence testing, but not specifically on twins reared apart. Sandra Scarr has conducted research on adoption and child development, but not specifically on twins reared apart. Francis Galton is known for his work on eugenics and for popularizing the concept of nature vs. nurture, but he did not conduct studies on twins reared apart.

Question 12

Which of the following is one of the conclusions of the study conducted by Scarr and Weinberg regarding the IQ difference between white and African Americans?

Accepted Answer

Scarr and Weinberg concluded that an enriched environment can have a positive impact on both IQ and achievement test scores.

Question 13

J. Philippe Rushton's conclusions on race and intelligence have been challenged on all of the following grounds except

Accepted Answer

Rushton's conclusions on race and intelligence have been criticized on the accuracy of the measurements, the methodology of his research, and whether the studies actually test intelligence. However, the age of the subjects has not been a significant factor in the challenge to his conclusions.

Question 14

What is the term for an index of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by heredity?

Accepted Answer

The term for an index of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by heredity is heritability.

Question 15

Studies of adopted children generally find a closer relationship between the IQs of children and their

Accepted Answer

Studies of adopted children have consistently found a stronger correlation between the IQs of children and their biological parents compared to their adoptive parents. This suggests that genetics play a larger role in determining intelligence than environmental factors such as upbringing and parenting.

Question 16

According to the text,

Accepted Answer

The text discusses how environmental factors, such as increased nutrition and education, have led to an increase in IQ scores over time, known as the Flynn effect. It also mentions how drastic changes in the environment, such as malnutrition or lead poisoning, can have negative effects on intelligence. As such, C is the best choice as it captures the idea that environmental factors can have significant effects on intelligence. A, B, and D are all incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the information presented in the text.

Question 17

J. Philippe Rushton argued that races could be ranked in order of intelligence. His conclusions were based on differences in

Accepted Answer

J. Philippe Rushton's conclusions were based on differences in head circumference, brain size, and estimated cranial space.

Question 18

Since the IQ scores of black and white children show less of a gap than the IQ scores of their parents, some researchers have concluded that

Accepted Answer

The fact that the gap in IQ scores between black and white children is narrower than that of their parents suggests that environmental gains are being made for black children, which may lead to higher IQ scores. It is possible that these gains are the result of improved educational opportunities and other factors that improve the overall environment for black children. This interpretation is consistent with the findings of many studies that have shown that environmental factors, such as educational quality and social support, can have a significant impact on IQ scores.

Question 19

The IQs of identical twins who were separated early in life and raised in different homes correlate almost as much as

Accepted Answer

Identical twins have almost identical DNA, which greatly influences their cognitive abilities. Therefore, even if they are raised in different environments, their IQs will be highly correlated. Half-siblings, non-identical siblings, and cousins do not share the same level of genetic similarity, so their IQs would not be as highly correlated.

Question 20

A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and the IQs of their biological mothers would support the ________ view of intelligence. A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their adoptive mothers would support the ________ view of intelligence.

Accepted Answer

The high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their biological mothers suggests that intelligence has a strong genetic basis, supporting the nature view of intelligence. On the other hand, a high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their adoptive mothers suggests that environmental factors such as upbringing and socialization play a significant role in shaping intelligence, supporting the nurture view of intelligence.

Quiz 7: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence