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[David in Cal]

Fascinating article about transparancy in science. In the Case Ctudy, a comparison of IQs in different regions was criticized because:

1. computations of geographic distance used Pythagoras’ theorem and so the paper assumed that the earth is flat

2. assumption that ancestors of indigenous populations traveled direct routes.

3. assumption that the IQ of current-day Australians, North Americans, and South Americans is representative of that of the genetically unrelated indigenous populations that inhabited these continents 10,000 years ago.

Another problem with the study IMHO is the basic assumption that IQ measures something purely genetic. Various immigrant groups in America have had dramatic changes in their average IQ over time. These results prove that culture has a substantial effect on whatever it is that IQ tests measure.