Statistics in ‘The Bell Curve’

Re “Statistics Can Throw Us a Curve,” Jan. 4:

Your science writer, K.C. Cole, has joined many others in criticizing “The Bell Curve,” and like others Cole’s critique seems pointless. Quoting mathematicians, for example, Cole writes, “Correlation, they say, does not necessarily mean causation.” The authors of the book agree, and further point out (Page 298), “That a trait is genetically transmitted in individuals does not mean that group differences in that trait are also genetic in origin.”

Cole states, “Comparing more than one factor always complicates the issue.” Again, the authors agree, and are very careful to point out which factors are included in each specific analysis and which are excluded.

We would be better served by commentators who address the central message of the book: There are significant differences in IQ scores between ethnic groups in America, and these differences are closely correlated with important social problems. So long as we deny these facts or try to explain them away, we have little chance of solving the problems. But it seems that Cole and others would rather shoot the messenger.

ALBERT R. HIBBS

Pasadena

* Enjoyed your article on misleading statistics, particularly as it applied to “The Bell Curve.” One factor rarely mentioned, however, is the quality of the samples “scientists” like Charles Murray use for their studies. In reality black (or Negro, colored, African American, etc.) is a political designation, not a scientific one. (One could also make a similar observation about “white.”)

For example, a child of one pure black and one pure white parent is always shuffled off to the black category. In a borderline-reasonable society a 50/50 child should have a choice. In a truly reasonable society, of course, there would be no racial designations. Which is why studies like those mentioned cannot show meaningful results--at best they are testing people of various unknown mixtures of genes against others of the same. Which can prove nothing.

KEN WIBECAN

Lynwood

* Cole’s article on statistics states: “There is a direct correlation, mathematicians have found, between children’s achievement on math tests and shoe size. A clear signal that big feet make you smarter?”

No no no no no. It’s big shoes that make you smarter.

WILLIAM J. EVANS

Irvine