According to one study, the heritability of IQ score in humans has a value of 0.52. What does this tell us about the role of "nature" versus "nurture" in determining intelligence in humans?
A) Intelligence is a qualitative trait, affected by both genetics and the environment, and it can't be predicted by heritability scores.
B) Children of highly intelligent parents will likely be very intelligent, regardless of the environment in which they're raised.
C) There is an approximately equal chance that children of intelligent parents will be as intelligent as their parents, depending on the environment in which they're raised.
D) High heritability values don't mean that the intelligence of children can be accurately predicted because the environment plays a strong role.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A heritability score of 0.52 suggests that genetics plays a moderate role in determining IQ, but that environmental factors also play a strong role. High heritability values do not mean that intelligence can be accurately predicted because the environment can have a significant impact on a person's IQ. Therefore, it is important to consider both nature and nurture when studying intelligence in humans. Option A is incorrect because heritability scores can give us important information about the relative contributions of genetics and the environment. Option B is too deterministic, as environment can play an important role in IQ development. Option C is incorrect because heritability scores do not provide information about the likelihood that children of intelligent parents will also be intelligent.

According to One Study, the Heritability of IQ Score in Humans