I think IQ tests can sometimes measure the limits of someone's ability to learn. But in the case of a population of people with lower than average access to quality education, an IQ test probably only measures how little they have been taught.
Reminds me of the idea that people with Uner Tan Syndrome were "devolved humans." Turns out that the main reason they couldn't walk normally was that they lacked access to proper physical therapy.
Anyway, if you watch the whole doc you can catch several scientists breathlessly describe how devolved these people are. And then at the end, $30 of equipment fixed the situation and "re-evolved" them.
I think IQ tests can sometimes measure the limits of someone's ability to learn. But in the case of a population of people with lower than average access to quality education, an IQ test probably only measures how little they have been taught.
Reminds me of the idea that people with Uner Tan Syndrome were "devolved humans." Turns out that the main reason they couldn't walk normally was that they lacked access to proper physical therapy.
http://www.psmag.com/nature-and-technology/walking-fours-hum...
Here's some clips from an old Nova episode on the subject:
"If they were born anywhere else they would walk normally." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svFg15ftGaQ&t=47m50s
"Astonishingly, no one had thought to provide them with a $30 walking frame." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svFg15ftGaQ&t=49m40s
"frustration with the situation often spills into anger." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svFg15ftGaQ&t=52m24s
At the end, they erected some parallel bars for the family and everyone learned to walk just fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svFg15ftGaQ&t=56m35s
Anyway, if you watch the whole doc you can catch several scientists breathlessly describe how devolved these people are. And then at the end, $30 of equipment fixed the situation and "re-evolved" them.