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Originally Posted by parejkoj
Actually, it does. That's rather the point. The mean IQ scores of the African American community over the past century, and the Irish and Polish during the earlier part of that century increased as those groups' standings improved (I don't have the citations for those at the moment). Does that mean those ethnic groups "got smarter," or does it mean that they got better at the things that the standard IQ tests measure? I'm banking on the latter.
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I agree that I.Q. tests are not always accurate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by parejkoj
Do you know of a method for measuring the "physical characteristics" that are relevant to mathematical ability that is free from cultural bias? There have been many attempts at creating such a "bias-free IQ" test, but I'm not aware of one that actually does what it claims to do.
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If I did, I might get rich
Quote:
Originally Posted by parejkoj
And the point of the studies I linked was that the difference between girls' and boys' math scores (biased as they may be!) disappears in more equal cultures, and that it is nearly gone in the US as well (and other things I linked provided copious evidence that the playing field is not yet level, as some have claimed in this thread). How could that possibly show that girls have less inherent mathematical ability than boys? Or, if you are not claiming that, what exactly is the counter-claim?
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I am not claiming that nor is there even a counter-claim.
What I referred to directly was that physical characteristics still exist.
Even intellect and ability can be heightened to a degree with development and training- but that is Still Limited by the physical peak.
Next, I am not one who thinks for even a moment that girls are less capable at math than boys.
My posts have reflected that.
However, I don't agree with jumping on bandwagons or distorting evidence either- which my posts also reflect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by parejkoj
Yes physiological differences exist between girls and boys, even in the brain. But are any of those differences actually reflected by differences in ability? Not only has no such evidence been provided, but the evidence seems to show that any such difference is effectively non-existent!
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I agree.
Funny thing is KenG seemed surprised when he learned I agree with that statement.
He couldn't seem to notice that what I argued with him about was his characterization of a stranger based on his bias. Which is Just as Wrong as claiming that girls are less able in math.
So - for the record- let's make sure that nothing I say gets distorted from this point.
It was very frustrating that last time and every time before that.