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Daniel Seligman

A Question of Intelligence: The IQ Debate in America Hardcover – November 1, 1992

by Daniel Seligman (Author)

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A look at the inequality in human intelligence addresses the sensitive issue of ethnic and national differences in IQ, outlining correlations between IQ levels and economic achievements, arguing for the continuation of the IQ tests many consider biased. 20,000 first printing.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fortune magazine columnist Seligman here targets the prevailing wisdom that IQ tests are culturally biased, that environment is more significant than genetics. His provocative argument, based on academic literature and interviews with scholars, is convincing: IQ tests do indeed measure mental abilities, those abilities are in substantial measure heritable and testing is worthwhile for it generates data of enormous social value and explanatory power. Seligman debunks media coverage of Chicago teacher Marva Collins and others who claim to dramatically raise the IQs of disadvantaged children in the classroom. But the book rambles. He devotes too much space to the history of IQ testing and the background of psychologist Arthur Jensen and his controversial theory that intelligence is determined largely by genes, rather than fully exploring, for example, why Asians and Jews score higher on IQ tests. Seligman maintains that environmental effects explain only part of the gap in IQ test scores between American blacks and whites and stresses that many scholars believe that the differences are attributable to genetics. The book concludes with an attack on affirmative action and a proposal that people should be treated as individuals. Seligman is to be credited with raising issues in a debate that many shy away from as too heated.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Seligman, a former senior staff editor of Time Inc. Publications and a columnist for Fortune , utilizes professional opinion studies, and statistical concepts to endorse intelligence quotients. He discusses "practical intelligence" and academic performance, explains the nature-nurture hypothesis (heritability vs. environment), and explores the latter's significance in twin studies, black-white tests, and Jewish-Japanese comparisons. For more objectivity, Raymond E. Fancher's The Intelligence Men: Makers of the IQ Controversy ( LJ 6/15/85) encompasses the scientific inquiry from the contributors and creators of IQ and is loaded with direct quotes. This 85-year-old dispute, Seligman says, has developed because Americans want to believe in equality, but IQ only verifies difference. His scholarly yet readable update to the argument is recommended for large education collections. (Bibliography, notes, and index not seen.)-- Ina M. Wise, Daley Community Coll. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Item Weight : 1 pounds
Hardcover : 239 pages
ISBN-10 : 1559721316
Dimensions : 5.75 x 1 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-13 : 978-1559721318
Publisher : Birch Lane Pr (November 1, 1992)
Language: : English

Best Sellers Rank: #2,885,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,331 in Medical Cognitive Psychology
- #17,713 in Medical General Psychology
- #81,208 in Psychology & Counseling

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Thomas M. Hines

this is a wonderful introduction to the science of psychometrics

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2014

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For those who are simply curious about the issue of intelligence testing, its methodology and various applications, this is a wonderful introduction to the science of psychometrics. Seligman touches on many facets of the IQ debate, underscoring its social and political consequences. The reality of intelligence, both genetically and environmentally determined, is discussed in depth. Denying the genetic component of intelligence can lead to unfortunate social policies that assume that all individuals are equally endowed with intellectual gifts. This book opens the way for a more realistic examination of how intelligence testing can provide the tools for a more efficient allocation of resources and human talents. Controversial and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

Comment

Seligman does excellent job.

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

Written by layman for laymen. Destroys myth that IQ tests are biased again minorities and explains why this and other myths exist.

Comment

A JOURNALIST PRESENTS A "POPULAR" SUMMARY (circa 1992)

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2013

Seligman states in the Preface of this 1992 book, "this book... will argue that IQ tests do indeed measure mental abilities that might collectively be thought of as intelligence. Also, that intelligence testing is a worthwhile enterprise and that data generated by the tests have enormous social value and explanatory power... The experts overwhelmingly believe... that the tests can be thought of as good measures in intelligence. They believe that genetic factors play a major role in explaining IQ differences between individuals..." (Pg. viii-x)

But he also admits, "I am not an academic scholar; certainly not a psychometrician. I am a journalist... here in the role of popularizer, not authority... There is no theoretical barrier telling us that IQs cannot be lifted by environmental intervention... everybody agrees that variability in IQ is substantially affected by environmental differences, and there is every reason to keep searching for programs that work... Psychologists today do not know how to effect permanent and significant increases in intelligence levels via programs of cultural enrichment." (Pg. x-xi)

He notes a "statistical phenomenon": "the so-called regression to the mean. This phenomenon tells us that the single most likely IQ for the child of above average intelligence is a figure somewhat below theirs but still above the population mean of 100. In other words, the child's IQ will have `regressed' some distance toward the mean... Regression toward the mean is not a biological imperative: It is merely reflecting the correlations we are working with here are less than perfect." (Pg. 88-89) He adds, "the fact of a highly heritable IQ does not guarantee high IQs to all the progeny of high-IQ families." (Pg. 91)

He concludes, "A major policy implication of the data... is that people should not be treated as members of groups but as individuals." (Pg. 204)

This popular summary will be of interest to some persons interested in this issue.

Comment

A fine survey of the IQ 'controversy'

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2007

I don't quite understand why this volume has seemingly received so little attention. I found it quite excellent in presenting a fair case to both sides of the 'debate' - which is rarely actually is - while still taking a considered position in support of IQ testing and its great value for society both as social predictors for individuals AND groups as well as in helping to formulate public policy at many levels.

Seligman doesn't hesitate to review authors and scientists and their work who are branded by liberal media as 'controversial' (read: anyone or any material that media disagrees with) and easily leads the reader through these people and works.

The author also takes on the black-white IQ issue and forthrightly demonstrates that there is indeed an IQ differential there of at least one standard deviation - and often TWO stand deviations - with blacks typically ranging 15-30 points below whites. He also fulsomely demonstrates that variability in IQ is 50-80% hereditary. Additionally, he points out that IQ and fertility are negatively correlated - i.e. that the least intelligent within society have the most children. These facts are of incalculable importance in assessing the American gene pool's current and future predicament - and no doubt charting the likely fate of civilization and culture too.

Seligman's book ought to be required study material in a whole range of academic disciplines, in addition to 'The Bell Curve'.

I recall reading 'The Bell Curve' in its entirety, which was published a little after Seligman's book (I believe), it was nowhere near as interesting and readable although it was vastly more detailed with statistics, tables, charts, etc. It is one of those works that is much cited but rarely actually READ.

Seligman cites the work of Richard Lynn here and there. Lynn has since published at least six of his own works, all of which are very important in this area, but are probably mainly only read by specialists.

10 people found this helpful

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