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by Fran Black
IQ or intelligent quotient is supposed to test intelligence
irregardless of age or environmental factors, yet
numerous studies show that environmental factors can
strongly influence IQ. The concept of intelligence
has continued to evolve, despite problems with and
misuses of IQ testing.
Some researches say that IQ, an income predictor,
is partially inherited. IQ is not influenced by family
size or birth order. There is absolutely no evidence
to suggest that IQ is lower in large families. There
is also no evidence to suggest that a first born child
will be more intelligent than any other child. Social
class is just one of many factors, both environmental
and genetic that might impact a child's IQ. Others
can include: diet, birth weight, parental IQ . IQ
tests can't measure all forms of intelligence.
Studies have shown that children who are breast fed
display IQ's up to 10 points higher by the age of
three. The right side of your brain controls the left
side of your body, and the left side of the brain
controls the right side of the body. Brain weight
accounts for about 2 percent of your body weight,
but your brain uses 20 percent of your body's oxygen
supply and 20-30 percent of your body's energy.
People with lower IQ are at a greater risk of getting
a concussion. A Danish study looked at 520 men who
had sustained concussions after having their IQ's
test . 30.4 percent of the concussed men had had low
scores, resulting in experts declaring that lower
IQ is a risk factor.
In the 1960s and '70s, IQ tests began to fall out
of favor, partially because of racially and culturally
specific test questions. Assumptions were made that
a lower IQ indicated the need for more teaching, not
an inability to learn. Education matters, studies
show that dropouts lose IQ points. Summer vacation
means brain drain. Two independent studies show an
IQ decline over the summer, increasing with every
month of school out. Kids hit the hardest are the
ones with the least amount of academic orientation.
Swedish researchers found a 1.8 point IQ loss for
each year of high school missed after dropping out.
An analysis of 1 million students in a New York school
district showed that school cafeteria food affected
IQ scores to an astonishing degree. When preservatives,
coloring and artificial flavors were removed from
the cafeteria menu researchers found that 70,000 students
performed two or more IQ grade levels higher than
before.
It is widely agreed that standardized tests can't
measure all forms for intelligence including creativity,
wisdom, practical sense and social sensitivity. Researchers
compared the incomes of fathers and sons and found
if you were in the bottom five percent of society
you had a one in 20 chance or less of getting to the
top. Another problem was that it was difficult to
convert to IQ scores from other achievement and ability
tests. .
About the Author
Francesca Black works in marketing at the Puzzle Place
http://www.puzzle-place.net
and Chess Strategies http://www.chess-strategies.net
leading puzzle and strategy portals.
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