This review of Arthur Jensen's "Bias in Mental Testing" focuses on alleged serious deficiencies in the book: errors of omission, problems with some arguments, misuses of methods, and insufficient rationale for the use of certain methods. The reviewer cautions against use of the book as an authoritative textbook. (CM)

Reviews the arguments supporting and opposing the idea that human intelligence can be improved. Research on the hereditary and environmental determinants of intelligence is examined. Problems in defining and measuring intelligence are discussed. (AM)

Relatively brief interactions with a commercial game that involved blocks and matching patterns are shown to cause a significant improvement in children's performances on the WISC-R Block Design subtest. Two experiments are described using 10-year-old children in game and no-game conditions. (Author/CM)

Compared the test scores of high and low anxious subjects when the Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale was administered by a trained examiner or mechanically. Findings indicated that performance was influenced by test administration procedures. There was a trend to score higher on the test given by an examiner. (Author/JAC)

Investigated the utility of the Revised Beta as a screening device for low-functioning minority-group criminal offenders. Mean scores for this sample were correlated only mildly. This finding contradicts prior research and creates the need for caution in using the Beta as a screening device with this population. (Author)

The question of how to integrate developmental (Piagetian) and psychometric conceptions and assessments of intelligence is considered. A solution which incorporates the contributions of each position--intelligence as forms and as traits--is offered. Premises and objectives of each tradition are reviewed and compared. Overlaps make synthesis…

Schools have a responsibility to match curricula to each child's needs and talent. While cognitive functioning is usually assessed to determine this match, motivation and adjustment are equally important determinants of intellectual competence and should also be evaluated. (Author/GC)

Compared vocabulary and block design subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and its Puerto Rican counterpart, the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos (EIWA), in hospitalized Latins and Trans-Caribbean Blacks. EIWA scores were significantly higher than WAIS scores. Equivalence of EIWA and WAIS estimates is questioned.…

The analysis indicated that 10 distinct patterns could account for the variance within the WISC-R subtests. Knowledge of the pattern of strengths and weaknesses did not provide additional prognostic power over that available using the WISC-R full scale IQ alone. (Author/CL)

First, third, fifth and eleventh graders were videotaped as they completed the Block Design Subtest of the WISC-R. Neither the order of placement of blocks within each design nor the degree to which children persisted in placing a given block correctly before moving to the next one evidenced developmental differences. (Author/RD)

Statistical Analysis of WISC, WISC-R, and WPPSI subtest scores uncovered evidence of an Indian Wechsler Scale performance pattern different from that found in normal and learning disabled groups. The Indian pattern finds spatial abilities more well-developed than sequencing skills, which are superior to conceptual and acquired knowledge…

Three of Guilford's measures of ideational fluency, and the Concept Mastery Test, a traditional verbal intelligence test, were correlated with a creative activities inventory. There were no significant differences between the predictive ability of ideational fluency and verbal intelligence measures. (Author/CP)

Determines the number of factors measured by the Peabody Institute Achievement Test (PIAT) subtests and the extent to which subtests measured the factors found. Results indicate only two factors: word recognition, and school-related knowledge. Use of PIAT as a separate test in a battery containing the WISC-R is supported. (Author/BEF)

Investigated relationships between the Kaufman Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised factors, Wide-Range Achievement Test (WRAT) scores, and visual-motor maturation in children referred because of school-related problems. Results indicated significant correlations between Verbal Comprehension and Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic…

Current issues of multicultural concern include language, nonverbal communication, cognitive styles, and intelligence testing. Discussions about court mandates and research findings are included. Teacher attitudes and the responsibility of schools of education are examined. (JN)