Bias in Science As a physical anthropologist (those who study variation in human
ID: 3044162 • Letter: B
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Bias in Science As a physical anthropologist (those who study variation in human biological characteristics), Samuel George Morton (1799-1851) aimed to understand var differences consisted of () reviewing ethnographic literature and (ii) providing a physical basis for the findings i the ethnographic literature. In 1849, Morton published "Catalogue of Skulls of Man and the In where he presents the results of his analysis of the physical measurements of various skull types cranial capacity, a trait believed to be an estimate of brain size. Below iation among different races of humans. His study of racial ferior Animals" including human is a figure taken from this 1849 publication. 95 90 85 75 70 Malay White Mongolian Native American Black Morton's Racial Groups Figure 1. Average cranial capacity (cubic inches) for human skulls from different races*. Data taken from Morton's "Catalogue of Skulls of Man and the Inferior Animals" 1849 Malay n = 23, White n 30, Mongolian n-6, Native American n = 338, Black n = 74 terms taken from Morton's work Morton used these data to test the prediction and associated hypothesis below which were based on the prevailing racialist theories reported in the ethnographic literature: Hypothesis: Races can be ordered by average intelligence using physical methods. Prediction: More intelligent races will have larger cranial capacity.Explanation / Answer
2. a. The sample size for mongolians are 6 and malay is 23. Any number below 30 may not be considered as a effective sample size to deduce any hypothesis..
b. The average has been taken care of, not the variance. The Variance could be a crucial factor to deduce any statement like this. It is better to comapare avg/variance than only average.
c. The samples could be highly biased as nothing other than race is considered. The samples should be a good mix of different economic status, assuming high economic status ensures high nourishment and better education.
d. The samples should also be a good mix of age and gender. The studies involving any human organ could be very different for males and females and also for different age groups.
e. Only one factor can not estimate intelligence. He should be researching about other factors and compare them too.
3. The graph represneted can be straight away misleading as "Whites are superior" because they have the highest avg capacity.
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