The more creative students among high scorers in the Westing-house Science Talent Search are more likely than the less creative ones to be Jews, according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health of the Public Health Service.
The study covered attributes and backgrounds of 1,039 teen-age boys and was made by Dr. Loisellin Dotto and Morris Parloff, Institute psychologists. For the study, the youths were divided into two groups — the more and the less creative — according to how the talent search judges had rated the originality of their science projects entered in the contest.
The study found the two groups had many similarities. Slightly more than half had fathers in professional occupations, the boys were similar in scientific aptitude, reported similar interest in becoming scientists and had equally high scores on scholastic aptitude tests. But the more creative students were found more likely to come from the northeastern states, by 44 versus 38 percent; from metropolitan areas, by 51 versus 41 percent, and from Jewish families by 46 versus 38 percent.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
