INTELLIGENCE - KNOWNS AND UNKNOWNS

In the fall of 1994, the publication of Herrnstein and Murray's book T he Bell Curve sparked a new round of debate about the meaning of intel ligence test scores and the nature of intelligence. The debate was cha racterized by strong assertions as well as by strong feelings; Unfortu nately, those assertions often revealed serious misunderstandings of w hat has (and has not) been demonstrated by scientific research in this field. Although a great deal is now known, the issues remain complex and in many cases still unresolved. Another unfortunate aspect of the debate was that many participants made little effort to distinguish sc ientific issues from political ones. Research findings were often asse ssed not so much on their merits or their scientific standing as on th eir supposed political implications. In such a climate, individuals wh o wish to make their own judgments find it hard to know what to believ e. Reviewing the intelligence debate at its meeting of November 1994, the Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA) of the American Psychological As sociation (APA) concluded that there was urgent need for an authoritat ive report on these issues-one that all sides could we as a basis for discussion; Acting by unanimous vote BSA established a Task Force char ged with preparing such a report. Ulric Neisser, Professor of Psycholo gy at Emery University and a member of BSA, was appointed Chair The AP A Board on the Advancement of Psychology, in the Public Interest, whic h was consulted extensively during this process, nominated one member of the Task Force, the Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment nominated another, a third was nominated by the Council of Representa tives. Other members were chosen by an extended consultative process, with the aim of representing a broad range of expertise and opinion. T he Task Force met twice, in January and March of 1995. Between and aft er these meetings, drafts of the various sections were circulated, rev ised, and revised yet again. Disputes were resolved by discussion. As a result, the report presented here has the unanimous support of the e ntire Task Force.