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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
6 pages in length. Sociologists and psychologists have long studied the aspect of intelligence as it relates to individual learning aptitude. Establishing such findings is accomplished through a number of testing approaches that attempt to categorize people as to their overall intelligence. However, such approaches are focused more significantly upon general findings, rather than the individual's specific understanding, inevitably serving to underestimate a person's true aptitude. One such method that has long been under the scrutiny of debate is the bell curve. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
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6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLCBellC.rtf
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categorize people as to their overall intelligence. However, such approaches are focused more significantly upon general findings, rather than the individuals specific understanding, inevitably serving to underestimate a persons
true aptitude. One such method that has long been under the scrutiny of debate is the bell curve. II. THE BELL CURVE DEBATE The concept of testing for
ones intelligence quotient (IQ) by employing the bell curve was sparked in the late 1960s when University of California psychologist Arthur R. Jensen prepared an article entitled "How Much Can
We Boost IQ and Scholastic Achievement" that would answer a government query as to "why the programs designed to compensate for cultural and economic deprivation have failed" (Niazi, 2002).
Appearing in the Harvard Educational Review, Jensen referred to a bell curve in order to illustrate how intelligence fluctuated between and among various cultures. Indicative of his findings was
that people of minority races were inherently lower in intelligence, which inevitably accounted for the curve. Critics of Jensens approach contended - and still contend today - that there
are myriad elements indicative of intelligence that cannot be measured on a bell curve, which sets a poor standard for measuring the masses upon such a broad and inaccurate scale.
One of the reasons why critics argue that the bell curve is inadequate at determining intelligence is because of test anxiety. The
psychological element of test performance is no myth; myriad people crumble under the pressure of being tested on their knowledge of a given subject, even if they are fully cognizant
of the material in question. The stress that culminates from this often-unfounded perception of pressure often leads one to perform at significantly lower levels of capability, ultimately compromising their
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