Publications

Authors:

Sartori, Riccardo

Title:

The Bell Curve in Psychological Research and Practice: Myth or Reality?

Year:

2006

Type of item:

Articolo in Rivista

Tipologia ANVUR:

Articolo su rivista

Language:

Inglese

Referee:

Sì

Name of journal:

Quality & Quantity. International Journal of Methodology

ISSN of journal:

0033-5177

Number or Folder:

40

:

Springer

Page numbers:

407-418

Keyword:

Statistical distribution; Psychometrics; Psychological measuremet

Short description of contents:

The expression “the bell curve” designs both a kind of statistical distribution and the title of a famous and controversial book by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray. The first is so attractive that the second refers to it to give more credibility to its questionable theories on intelligence. The point is that, during the 20th century, the bell curve has assumed a more and more important role in psychological research and practice and have become both a reality and a myth. In the first case (reality) we can assist to appropriate applications of a real useful statistical concept. In the second (myth) we can have two kinds of attitudes: one attitude is typical of those researchers who search for normality in all their data and variables, just as Parsifal used to search for the Holy Graal (we call this “the Parsifal attitude”); the other is typical of those researchers who give normality for granted and act as if it were a Platonic Idea (we call this “the Plato attitude”). The article discusses the role of the normal distribution in psychological research and practice and shows how it can be dangerous to treat the bell curve as a God or an Idol.

Note:

The expression “the bell curve” designs both a kind of statistical distribution and the title of a famous and controversial book by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray. The first is so attractive that the second refers to it to give more credibility to its questionable theories on intelligence. The point is that, during the 20th century, the bell curve has assumed a more and more important role in psychological research and practice and have become both a reality and a myth. In the first case (reality) we can assist to appropriate applications of a real useful statistical concept. In the second (myth) we can have two kinds of attitudes: one attitude is typical of those researchers who search for normality in all their data and variables, just as Parsifal used to search for the Holy Graal (we call this “the Parsifal attitude”); the other is typical of those researchers who give normality for granted and act as if it were a Platonic Idea (we call this “the Plato attitude”). The article discusses the role of the normal distribution in psychological research and practice and shows how it can be dangerous to treat the bell curve as a God or an Idol.

Product ID:

29891

Handle IRIS:

11562/29891

Deposited On:

March 20, 2012

Last Modified:

November 7, 2022

Bibliographic citation:

Sartori, Riccardo, The Bell Curve in Psychological Research and Practice: Myth or Reality? «Quality & Quantity. International Journal of Methodology » , n. 40 , 2006 , pp. 407-418

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