Introduction: According to an essay published by Sify Limited online, most scientists agree that intelligence arises from the influence of both genetic and environmental factors. Careful analysis is required in order to attribute any influence to either environment or heredity. However, there is evidence that the quality of education affects intelligence as measured in standardized intelligence tests also known as IQ tests. For example, children who attend school intermittently tend to score poorly on IQ tests relative to students that attend regularly. Another finding is that the quality of the education received affects test scores. For example, some schools are more focused and therefore more effective teaching problem solving skills as well as abstract thinking skills. These are measured in IQ tests. Another important skill taught in some schools and not required in others involves learning how to remain focused. Since individuals must be focused to do well on IQ tests, the type of education they receive will impact on their IQ test scores.
According to the same essay, certain racial and ethnic groups do poorer on IQ tests because of cultural and social factors that put them at a disadvantage. These social factors include poverty, lack of access to a quality education, and prejudicial attitudes that tend to interfere with learning. It is also possible that racism results in a lower quality of education resulting in lower test scores on standardized IQ tests. The essay suggests that these environmental factors are not and cannot be measured using standardized testing (Intelligence Quotient, 2005).
There is a problem associated with the use of IQ tests on individuals with learning disabilities according to an essay written by Jan Strydom and published online on the Audioblox 2000 website. Strydom explains that IQ scores are required of people with learning disabilities despite the fact that most of these individuals
...