From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Thu Oct 03 2002 - 13:29:08 MDT
Emlyn wrote:
>
> Does this scream out "negative feedback loop" to anyone else? If kids
> have any idea of their test scores, that's not going to help the low
> scorers do well. Also, a school system which thinks it has a
> predictor of someone's performance is going to act, purposely or
> accidentally, to support that prediction; eg, by putting people in
> graded classes, or directing resources to those who can best use them
> (in the school's opinion). So there is the possibility that
> inaccurate, biased tests could shape the behaviour of institutions
> which in turn produce kids to the specifications of the testing. A
> self fulfilling prophecy?
>
### This is indeed possible, however, we shouldn't forget that it is
relatively difficult to improve or depress IQ significantly, except by very
drastic environmental manipulation. There are many groups which succeeded
excellently despite being discriminated against in schools - e.g. the
Chinese, Ashkenazi, Poles, Irish. It appears that discrimination alone is
not sufficient to depress IQ for long. In fact, being confronted with a
stereotype spurs many persons to work hard on proving it wrong.
Rafal
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