Comments on: Is dumping IQ a genius idea? http://futurismic.com/2009/02/02/is-dumping-iq-a-genius-idea/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dave http://futurismic.com/2009/02/02/is-dumping-iq-a-genius-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-18404 Dave Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:17:50 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5891#comment-18404 You're kidding, right? You can't improve "diversity" by fudging a psychometric. That's like fighting sexism by adding a couple inches to women's heights. Better to simply acknowledge that IQ, while meaningful, is far from the only thing that's meaningful; diversity may be another (separate!) meaningful attribute in many contexts. You’re kidding, right? You can’t improve “diversity” by fudging a psychometric. That’s like fighting sexism by adding a couple inches to women’s heights.

Better to simply acknowledge that IQ, while meaningful, is far from the only thing that’s meaningful; diversity may be another (separate!) meaningful attribute in many contexts.

]]> By: Buck Ram Dass http://futurismic.com/2009/02/02/is-dumping-iq-a-genius-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-18363 Buck Ram Dass Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:07:33 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5891#comment-18363 I am thinking that we should be making diversity a part of this test. It disturbs to think that some group score one or two standard deviations lower than mean IQ score for alpha groups (Euros, E. Asians, Brahmins, Ashkenazim, eso). We must be taking new approach and add points to score, like the affirming action admitting to school or job. Just add point to be diversity. I am thinking that we should be making diversity a part of this test. It disturbs to think that some group score one or two standard deviations lower than mean IQ score for alpha groups (Euros, E. Asians, Brahmins, Ashkenazim, eso). We must be taking new approach and add points to score, like the affirming action admitting to school or job. Just add point to be diversity.

]]> By: Dave http://futurismic.com/2009/02/02/is-dumping-iq-a-genius-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-18351 Dave Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:38:16 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5891#comment-18351 We can recognize that things other than intelligence matter without expanding the definition of intelligence to include all those other things. The latter approach is silly and probably intellectually dishonest. IQ is not everything, and it is not meant to encompass everything -- therefore, pointing out that IQ does not include <em>X</em> for some valuable <em>X</em> is not a very good criticism of IQ. However, it is worth pointing out the (well-established) observation that tests that seem to measure a wide variety of "different intelligences" -- spatial, memory, etc. -- are highly correlated with each other. This is the observation that lead to the invention of IQ in the first place. Social forces -- like, importantly, PC discomfort -- make us want to look for ways around this fact, but it's better to simply acknowledge that, while IQ is a decent way of thinking about intelligence, it's not a measure of human worth or even of every important survival skill. We can recognize that things other than intelligence matter without expanding the definition of intelligence to include all those other things. The latter approach is silly and probably intellectually dishonest.

IQ is not everything, and it is not meant to encompass everything — therefore, pointing out that IQ does not include X for some valuable X is not a very good criticism of IQ.

However, it is worth pointing out the (well-established) observation that tests that seem to measure a wide variety of “different intelligences” — spatial, memory, etc. — are highly correlated with each other. This is the observation that lead to the invention of IQ in the first place. Social forces — like, importantly, PC discomfort — make us want to look for ways around this fact, but it’s better to simply acknowledge that, while IQ is a decent way of thinking about intelligence, it’s not a measure of human worth or even of every important survival skill.

]]> By: Screen Sleuth http://futurismic.com/2009/02/02/is-dumping-iq-a-genius-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-18350 Screen Sleuth Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:34:35 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5891#comment-18350 Agreed...I know many "smart" people with multiple degrees that couldn't find their own ass with a compass and a GPS when it comes to common sense or basic social values. IQ and book intelligence is only part of the equation for judging how smart someone is. Agreed…I know many “smart” people with multiple degrees that couldn’t find their own ass with a compass and a GPS when it comes to common sense or basic social values. IQ and book intelligence is only part of the equation for judging how smart someone is.

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