Inequality by Design
Inequality by Design: Cracking the Bell Curve Myth is a 1996 book by Claude S. Fischer, Michael Hout, Martín Sánchez Jankowski, Samuel R. Lucas, Ann Swidler, and Kim Voss. The book is a reply to The Bell Curve (1994) by Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein and attempts to show that the arguments in The Bell Curve are flawed, that the data used by Murray and Herrnstein do not support their conclusion and that alternative explanations (particularly the effects of social inequality) better explain differences in IQ scores than genetic explanations.
The Bell Curve and social inequality
The book's particular focus is the book The Bell Curve, but to some extent this focus is to illustrate a doctrine that the authors attempt to refute:
Fischer et al. contend that Herrnstein and Murray's data explain, at best, only a limited amount of social inequality in the United States (between 5% and 10%) and that the analysis of the data in The Bell Curve is itself flawed.
Subordinate ethnic groups
In later chapters the book examines the supposed lower intelligence of a variety of ethnic groups in different societies and time periods. The book claims that ethnic groups placed in a subordinate role in caste system (or caste-like system) have poor school and test performance.
Notable examples of such groups include Koreans in Japan compared with Koreans in the United States, and the supposed change in perception of Jews in the United States from being regarded as "dull" in the early twentieth century to being regarded as part of a "cognitive elite" now.
Reviews
- Boston Globe, "Studies hit Bell Curve linking of race, IQ books say environment, not heredity, is major determinant of intelligence", May 7, 1996 Author: John Yemma, Globe Staff
- Civil Rights Journal, September 22, 1997 Author: Carlson, Ken
- New Statesman, Vol. 125 Issue 4315, "Nurture v nature". 12/20/96-01/03/97 Author: Malik, Kenan [1][dead link]
- Personnel Psychology, Vol. 50, Issue 3, 741-746. "Review of Inequality by design: Cracking the Bell Curve myth, by C. S. Fischer, M. Hout, M. S. Jankowski, S. R. Lucas, A. Swidler, & K. Voss. P." Date: 1997. Author: Gottfredson, Linda
- Journal of the American Statistical Association, Date: March 1, 1999 Author: Sconing, James