Reviews the 1989 report, "A Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society," which examines the anticipated and unanticipated consequences of initiatives since 1940 to improve the Blacks' social position. Criticizes the report for omitting evidence concerning racial differences in intelligence and criminal activity at the individual level. (FMW)

Methodological tools such as analysis of variance designs can reflect bias. Difficulties in the interpretation of cross-cultural differences can be avoided only if the researcher considers all external variables which account for the variance. No variance should be left to be explained in terms of culture. (VM)