Philip E. Vernon
Encyclopedia
Philip Ewart Vernon was a British psychologist
. He studied race and intelligence
.
Born in Oxford, England, he attended St. John's College, Cambridge and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1927. Vernon studied contributions of environmental and genetic factors to intellectual development. He concluded that individual differences in intelligence are approximately 60% attributable to genetic factors, and that there is some evidence implicating genes in racial group differences in average levels of mental ability.
He received a grant from Pioneer Fund
, which he used to document the substantial social class differences in IQ scores found in both the US and the UK. According to the Pioneer Fund website,
In 1949, Vernon was appointed the Professor of Psychology at the Institute of Education
, University of London, and was later appointed to a research professorship at the Institute in 1964.
In 1968, at the age of 63, he abandoned a secure academic career in England to start a second career at the University of Calgary
.
The Philip E. Vernon Award at University of Calgary is named in his honor.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
. He studied race and intelligence
Race and intelligence
The connection between race and intelligence has been a subject of debate in both popular science and academic research since the inception of intelligence testing in the early 20th century...
.
Born in Oxford, England, he attended St. John's College, Cambridge and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1927. Vernon studied contributions of environmental and genetic factors to intellectual development. He concluded that individual differences in intelligence are approximately 60% attributable to genetic factors, and that there is some evidence implicating genes in racial group differences in average levels of mental ability.
He received a grant from Pioneer Fund
Pioneer Fund
The Pioneer Fund is an American non-profit foundation established in 1937 "to advance the scientific study of heredity and human differences." Currently headed by psychology professor J. Philippe Rushton, the fund states that it focuses on projects it perceives will not be easily funded due to...
, which he used to document the substantial social class differences in IQ scores found in both the US and the UK. According to the Pioneer Fund website,
"the analysis of the World War I American military conscripts showed that the average IQ of children born in the professional class was 123, whereas those born to unskilled workers averaged 96. Vernon concluded that these social class differences have some genetic basis. He based this assessment on his review of the evidence that the intelligence of adopted children related more to the social class of their biological parents than to that of their adopting parents. Vernon suggested that social mobility allows those with higher intelligence to rise in the social hierarchy, while those with lower intelligence tend to fall."
In 1949, Vernon was appointed the Professor of Psychology at the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, University of London, and was later appointed to a research professorship at the Institute in 1964.
In 1968, at the age of 63, he abandoned a secure academic career in England to start a second career at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
.
The Philip E. Vernon Award at University of Calgary is named in his honor.
Publications
- Study of Values: A scale for measuring the dominant intersests in personality. (1931)
- The Measurement of Abilities (1940)
- The Structure of Human Abilities (1950)
- Intelligence and Attainment Tests (1960)
- Intelligence and Cultural Environment (1969)
- The Psychology and Education of Gifted Children (1977)
- Intelligence: Heredity and Environment (1979)
- The Abilities and Achievements of Orientals in North America (1982)