Ugh
25 August 2006 by Bob
One further example of why people in the media need to take a philosophy of science course…
Taller people are smarter: study
NEW YORK (Reuters) – While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it’s not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality — tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds. “As early as age three — before schooling has had a chance to play a role — and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests,” wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. [...] “As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns,” they wrote.
The usual (obvious) disclaimers are often revealed eventually in the story — almost as an afterthought…
The research confirms previous studies that show that early nutrition is an important predictor of intelligence and height. “Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew,” Case said in an interview.
These disclaimers are important, because they show another problem with this type of reporting, i.e., the non-discussion of important socio-economic variables (i.e., poor people, prenatal care, and general nutrition, for starters).
I’d much rather see comprehensive studies of nutrition-cognitive-testing-correlations, and then really expand on the connections to resources available in lower socio-economic areas. The math at that point would be relatively clear — and would point to something far different from the pissant research this study provides.
Taller people are smarter? Shame on you, Princeton…
26 August 2006, on 1:36 am
Oh, it’s true all right. I’m a 5′11″ tall woman, and I’m definitely smarter than average. I’ve got the papers to prove it. You’re just jealous, you short little shit.
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
`Round here
26 August 2006, on 1:43 am
I totally agree on this one – the emphasis was placed on the wrong correlation. You can already see this soundbite hitting the blogosphere and annoying the heck out of short people like me. Check out my analysis here.
26 August 2006, on 2:55 am
Yes! I r 6′4! I r inteliggent!
Up urs shrt peeps!
—-
How can people actually type like that?! It hurts.
26 August 2006, on 7:02 am
Has Raindog permanently become Robert O’Brien? Will we ever see the real Raindog again?
I mean, I did it for a couple of days (Shhh… I was ‘Roger Ramjet’ — as if you couldn’t guess) but this one has gone on for an unhealthy legth of time!
26 August 2006, on 7:09 am
I have it on good authority that Bob is not short.
But…
Short People got no reason…
26 August 2006, on 10:28 am
But the scientific evidence points out that, as Gawd’s voice descends from on high, it reaches the ears of the tallest first. Which makes Yao Ming a holy motherfucker. This is impossible to refute!
26 August 2006, on 11:08 pm
Please, for the love of all that is good and true, please warn people about the Goatse link above.
It isn’t just Not Safe For Work – it is just not safe.
GoatSe Man – RIP.
27 August 2006, on 12:48 pm
Not only that, but it takes way more effort for tall people to do the requisite bowing, scraping, and faceplanting before their Gawd, which makes their gesture even worthier. Is GoatSe man dead? Did he die from doing the GoatSe schtick?