Michael:

OK, I'll take the bait. 

Europeans are not the highest scoring "group" on the Stanford-Binet and
Wechsler tests (using group categories of common usage). So Europeans
are deficient on their own tests! (if you want to use the word
"deficient" - I don't). Want to talk bias? The slope relating IQ score
to real-life success is basically identical for all "groups". If
anything, the tests are biased against white Europeans and Orientals
because they typically under-estimate real-world success. Minorities [as
routinely defined] fare better on acceptances if standardized tests are
used, as opposed to, say, high-school grades.

You can talk about different "intelligences" if you like, but many of
the alternative intelligences proposed by, e.g. Gardner, are better
described as skills, talents or aptitudes. Why so? The word intelligence
as historically used covers the "stuff" we put on IQ tests. To use
intelligence in reference to interpersonal or athletic skills is
re-defining the word. SO, talk about other traits all you want, but
please: get your own word! "Intelligence" is already taken.

I could go on and on, but, is there any point??

============================================
John W. Kulig
Professor of Psychology
Plymouth State College
Plymouth NH 03264
============================================
Za dvumia zaitsami pogonish'sia - ni odnogo ne poimaesh [If you chase
after two rabbits, you won't catch even one]Russian proverb.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: michael sylvester [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 11:54 AM
> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences
> Subject: Eurogenic Psychology 2
> 
> 
> 
>  One aspect of EP is its pre-occupation with "reliability"
>  and not much consideration to "validity".Reliability is
>  just one aspect of measuring  an idea,this still does not mean
>   that the idea is valid.EP contain lots of constructs as
>   intelligence ,personality,motivation defined within a Eurogenic
>    schema -where individual differences are emphasized in a
Eurocentric
>    environment.But applying these concepts to a non-Eurogenic
>    environment often leads to an assumed deficiency attribution to
>    blacks,Hispanics and others.There are valid concepts but how they
>    are defined are critical.Intelligence may be defined as the ability
>    to adapt to existing environments.With this in mind,it would appear
>    basketball players depict maximum adaptive ability at Notre Dame
and
>    other colleges.Raising academic standards of the paper and pencil
>     type to judge skills in an area where different skills are
>      required just does not make sense.I still do not understand
>     why people think that a star athelete should be doing good
>      academically.These may be different intelligences.Is one form
>      of intelligence better than another? and what about motivation?
> 
>     Michael Sylvester,PhD
>     Daytona Beach,Florida
> 
> 
> 
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