But why an army of *nerd* clones?

[steuard]

I just got a letter from Duke University. Apparently, they want my DNA.

Years ago, Duke arranged for me (and many other 7th graders) to take the SAT. I did pretty well (very well, for a 7th grader). Now, some researchers there(?) are doing a study looking for "genetic markers of intellectual functioning" and they tell me that "There is probably no group of individuals in this country who possess higher measured cognitive abilities than the Duke TIP group to which you belong." (That's just one example of the flattery they've used.)

I'm not sure whether to participate. Being used as a genetic exemplar of brilliance sounds great and all, but I find the premise of the study to be pretty cheesy. They apparently believe that my ability to take standardized tests way back in 7th grade is supposed to correlate significantly with intelligence. That was probably a factor, but especially at that early age I'd think that my parents' habit of reading to me (and encouraging me to read grown-up books) contributed at least as much, to say nothing of the Lincoln public school system's fantastic gifted program (I had already had personal math mentors for several years at that point). It's hard for me to believe that "good 7th grade SAT score" will correlate clearly with anything but "white upper-middle class background".

So, what do you think: should I give them my genes or not?

[Edit: Just to be clear (since patrissimo seems to have missed my point a bit), I recognize that intelligence is a part of why I did well on the test. The genetic markers they identify may well correspond roughly to "smart white upper-middle class" kids. But I have serious doubts about their ability to disentangle those factors.]

Comments

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

The SAT actually does have a correlation from IQ scores, with what I understand. (I'm sure it *also* has a correlation with background.)

CTY hasn't asked me for my genes, so I can't say how I'd feel ;).

[feuervogel]

Don't IQ scores *also* have a correlation with background?

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[feuervogel]

So, something that correlates to something else that correlates with background ... strikes me as a poor indicator of anything other than background. Which is Stu's point, I think.

[steuard.livejournal.com]

I've just added a link to patrissimo's response to my post, where he made this point (and then some). But as I've argued there, I think that the environmental factors are especially significant for 7th graders. Without my public schools' great gifted program, I would not have seen any algebra before I took the test, and without my parents' encouragement I doubt that I would have been as widely read before I sat down to answer its vocabulary questions. My high intelligence would have been nearly useless on the SAT if I hadn't been regularly exposed to knowledge well above my grade level. That's a much stronger environmental influence than would be typical among high school students.

[feuervogel]

Probably against my better judgement, I have commented in response over there.