Myerson, Joel, Rank, Mark, Raines, Fredric, & Schnitzler, Mark
Researchers: Fredric RainesJoel MyersonMark RankMark Schnitzler
University Affiliation: Washington University
Email: jmyerson@artsci.wustl.edu
Research Question:
The impact of education on racial differences in general cognitive ability.
Published: 1
Journal Name or Institutional Affiliation: Psychological Science
Journal Entry: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 139-142
Year: 1998
Findings:
- White students made gains during the college years, the Black students benefited more than 4 times as much, increasing their scores more than 0.7 SD from the time of entering college until the time of graduation 4 years later.
- Between the beginning and end of High School, the scores of White future HS graduates increased more than twice as much as the scores of Black future HS graduates.
- As Black and White students complete more grades in high school environments that differ in quality, the gap in cognitive test scores widens.
- At college level where Black and White students are exposed to educational environments of comparable quality, many Blacks are able to make remarkable gains, closing the gaps in test scores.
- Variations in amount and quality of education that are within the range commonly observed in this country can have a profound impact.