An Educational Career Path Model Including IQ-Variables for Fathers and Sons

Omitting IQ variables from a path model for educational career may result in overestimation of environmental effects. To investigate this phenomenon, questionnaire data on fathers' occupational status, fathers' & sons' educational level, & fathers' & sons' IQ were obtained from Dutch military recruits & their fathers (N = 2,847). The results show that including the sons' IQ in a model for the educational career improves the model by avoiding the overestimation of environmental effects; however, adding the fathers' IQ to the model makes no difference. In Intelligentsie of leerprestatie? (Intelligence or Educational Achievement?), J. Dronkers & J. L. Peschar argue that more attention should be given to environmental influences, particularly within the school, since the quality of education can bring about some change in IQ between first grade & high school graduation. 2 Tables, 8 Figures, 1 Appendix, 14 References. Modified HA