Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T19:41:03.462Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cognitive and educational attainment in different ethnic groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

A. M. West ,
N. J. Mackintosh  and
C. G. N. Mascie-Taylor
A. M. West
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
N. J. Mackintosh
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
C. G. N. Mascie-Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The educational attainment of over 2000 children aged 7–15 years from six different ethnic groups was assessed. Children of Pakistani and of Bangladeshi origin tended to obtain the lowest mean scores on all tests, often well below those of West Indian children, who tended to perform as well as Indian children and often no worse than the indigenous majority. There were few signs of any reliable trends over age. Differences were more pronounced on tests of reading and vocabulary than on tests of mathematics but, on tests of non-verbal reasoning, most ethnic minorities also obtained low scores. Many of these differences were associated with differences in social and family circumstances.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , October 1992 , pp. 539 - 554
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, S. & Smith, C. R. (1975) Minority group experience of transition from education to work. In: Entering the World of Work: Some Sociological Perspectives. Edited by Brannen, P.. HM Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Ashby, B., Morrison, A. & Butcher, H. J. (1970) The abilities and attainments of immigrant children. Res. Educ. 4, 73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickinson, I., Hobbs, A., Kleinberg, S. M. & Martin, P. J. (1975) The Immigrant School Learner: a Study of Pakistani Pupils in Glasgow. NFER-Nelson, Windsor.Google Scholar
Driver, G. (1977) Cultural competence, social power and school achievement: West Indian secondary school pupils in the West Midlands. New Community, 5, 353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mabey, C. (1981) Black British literacy: a study of reading attainment of London black children from 8–15 years. Educ. Res. 23, 83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackintosh, N. J. & Mascie-Taylor, C. G. N. (1986) The IQ question. In: Personality, Cognition and Values, pp. 77–131. Edited by Bagley, C. & Verma, G. K.. Macmillan, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mascie-Taylor, C. G. N. (1984) Biosocial correlates of IQ. In: The Biology of Human Intelligence, pp. 99–127. Edited by Turner, C. J. & Miles, H. B.. Eugenics Society, London.Google Scholar
Maughan, B. & Dunn, G. (1988) Black pupils progress in secondary school. In: Educational Attainments: Issues and Outcomes in Multicultural Education, pp. 112–27. Edited by Verma, G. K. & Pumfrey, P.. Falmer, London.Google Scholar
McFie, J. & Thompson, J. A. (1970) Intellectual abilities of immigrant children. Br. J. educ. Psychol. 40, 348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McManus, I. C. & Mascie-Taylor, C. G. N. (1983) Biosocial correlates of cognitive abilities. J. biosoc. Sci. 15, 289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Payne, J. (1969) A comparative study of mental ability of seven- and eight-year-old British and West Indian children in a West Midland town. Br. J. educ. Psychol. 39, 326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, H. & Burgess, T. (1980) Language and Dialects of London School Children: An Investigation. Ward Lock Educational, London.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. & Madge, N. (1977) Cycles of Disadvantage: a Review. Heinemann, London.Google Scholar
Scarr, S., Caparulo, B. K., Ferdman, B. M., Tower, R. B. & Caplan, J. (1983) Developmental status and school achievements of minority and non-minority children from birth to 18 years in a British Midlands town. Br. J. dev. Psychol. 1, 31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharma, R. (1971) The Measured Intelligence of Children from the Indian Sub-continent Resident in Hertfordshire. PhD thesis, Institute of Education, University of London.Google Scholar
West, A. M. (1988) Cognitive Attainments in Different Ethnic Groups. PhD thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Yule, W., Berger, M., Rutter, M. & Yule, B. (1975) Children of West Indian immigrants—II, intellectual performance and reading attainment. J. Child Psychol. Psychiat. 16, 1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed