Human Abilities in Cultural Context

This study offers a re-evaluation of ability theory and different approaches to the measurement of intelligence.

S. H. Irvine (Edited by), J. W. Berry (Edited by)

9780521344821, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 September 1988

636 pages
23.4 x 15.6 x 3.5 cm, 1.06 kg

"...this book will help set the research agenda for another generation of psychologists..." Contemporary Psychology

Originally published in 1988, Human Abilities in Cultural Context constituted a major development in conceptualising and studying human abilities. It formed a unique reference frame. This study offers a re-evaluation of ability theory by the editors, S. H. Irvine and J. W. Berry, and strong individual statements by H. J. Eysenck, Arthur R. Jensen, Joseph R. Royce, and Robert J. Sternberg, who represent markedly different approaches to the measurement of intelligence. It also focuses on contexts in which the limits of assessment by psychological tests are defined: in minority native groups in North America, in migrants to Britain, in lower-caste enclaves in India, among African minorities, and among Australian Aborigines. Written by long-term residents of the regions in question, these chapters presented a wealth of fresh data in relation to Western formulations of theory and practice.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. Human Abilities in Theoretical Cultures
Section 1. Holistic Theories: 1. The abilities of mankind: a revaluation S. H. Irvine and J. W. Berry
2. A triatchic view of intelligence in cross-cultural perspective Robert J. Sternberg
Section 2. Biometric Fundamentalism: 3. The biological basis of intelligence H. J. Eysenck
4. Speed of information processing and population differences Arthur R. Jensen
Section 3. Structural Psychometrics: 5. The factor model as a theoretical basis for individual differences Joseph R. Royce
6. The meaning of item bias in ability tests Ype H. Poortinga and Henk van der Flier
Part II. Cultural Responses to Ability Measurement
Section 4. Europe and North America: 7. The British 'cultural influence' on ability testing Paul Kline
8. Cultural influences on patterns of abilities in North America Philip Anthony Vernon, Douglas N. Jackson and Samuel Messick
9. Human abilities in the Eastern Mediterranean Cigdem Kagitcibasi and Isik Savasir
10. The Norwegian tests and measurements in cultural context Knut A. Hagtvet and Johan O. Undheim
Section 5. Africa, Asia, and Australia: 11. Human assessment in Australia Daphne M. Keats and John A. Keats
12. Test performance of blacks in Southern Africa I. M. Kendall, Mary Ann Vester, and J. W. Von Mollendorf
13. Individual differences among the peoples of China J. W. C. Chan and Philip E. Vernon
14. Japanese abilities and achievements Saburo Iwawaki and Philip E. Vernon
Part III. Cultural Limits Upon Human Assessment
Section 6. Minorities and Enclaves: 15. Native North Americans: Indian and Inuit abilities Damian McShane and J. W. Berry
16. Aboriginal cognition and psychological nescience L. Z. Klich
17. Testing Bushmen in the Central Kalahari Helmut Reuning
18. Caste and cognitive processes J. P. Das and Amulya Kanti Satpathy Khurana
19. Educational adaptation and achievement of ethnic minority adolescents in Britain Gajendra K. Verma
20. The diminishing test performance gap between English speakers and Afrikaans speakers in South Africa J. M. Verster and R. J. Prinsloo
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR]