Topic 1; Van Leeuwen Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the aim?

A

to measure the relative influence of assortative mating, cultural transmission, GE interaction and correlation and researchers also wanted to investigate why spouses have similar intelligence scores to one another

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2
Q

what was the sample?

A
  • 112 families of twins from the Netherlands about to turn 9
  • all had an extra sibling between the ages 9 and 14
  • only families without reported psychiatric problems, major medical issues, special educational needs or physical/sensory disabilities were included
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3
Q

what was the design of the study?

A

extended twin design

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4
Q

what was the procedure?

A
  • children completed a cognitive test known as Raven Standard Progressive Matrices - the test consisted of 60 problems divided into 5 sets of 12 questions that became increasingly difficult as the test progressed and it covered many cognitive abilities; ranging from identifying missing puzzle pieces and and completing analogies
  • adults completed a similar but more advanced test known as the Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices
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5
Q

what is phenotypic assortment?

A

suggests that assortative mating occurs because individuals choose one another they have similar intelligence levels with

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6
Q

what is social homogamy?

A

suggests that because people with similar intelligence levels exist in the same environment, they are more likely to mate with one another

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7
Q

what are the SIX findings from this study?

A
  • there were no significant differences between male and female IQ scores
  • variance in siblings was significantly larger than twins - suggesting that twins scored similar scores
  • cultural/environmental factors had less significance than genetic factors
  • higher correlation between the IQ test scores of monozygotic twins
  • higher correlation between the IQ test scores of parents - provides evidence of assortative mating (phenotypic assortment)
  • children with low IQ scores can be affected more by environmental factors
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8
Q

what are the THREE conclusions from the study?

A
  • the main influence on IQ level is genetic factors, but genes can interact with environmental factors to influence intelligence
  • cultural transmission does not have a significant influence on IQ levels
  • phenotypic assortment better explains spousal resemblance than social homogamy
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9
Q

what are the strengths of this study?

A
  • highly ethical; consent was gained from the children’s parents, each IQ test was age appropriate and it is unlikely that participants are at risk of potential metal and physical harm
  • high levels of internal reliability; participants completed the tests individually, all information/conditions were the same, meaning that the risk of extraneous variables are reduced plus
  • holistic; provides a complex intersection between DNA, phenotypes and environmental factors
  • ecological validity - represents exams in an educational setting
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10
Q

what are the weaknesses of this study?

A
  • socially sensitive, especially when suggesting that men are more intelligent than women
  • deterministic; suggesting that intelligence is largely influenced by genetics may limit the individual’s potential within the educational system
  • lacks external validty; only measures fluid intelligence (educational setting) ignores how intelligence is important in other areas such as job employment (self discipline and knowing how to be motivated in orfer to succeed)
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