A META-ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL COGNITIVE ABILITY AND FERTILITY

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Heeney, M. (2018). A META-ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL COGNITIVE ABILITY AND FERTILITY. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Empirical studies of the relationship between general cognitive ability and fertility span nearly a century. Reported effects generated through previous studies vary widely, and are believed to reflect differences in: 1) sample characteristics (e.g., gender, race, geographic region), and 2) methodological differences (e.g., different assessments of cognitive ability, range restriction, age of sample). The purpose of this study is to conduct a quantitative literature review using meta-analytic procedures. A thorough search identified 17 unique datasets that passed the inclusion criteria. The overall weighted effect was r = -.11. Analysis of variation in effect sizes due to methodological factors found significant differences due to age of sample (i.e., whether or not fertility was completed) with larger effects seen when fertility had not yet been completed. Further moderator analyses yielded stronger effects for females compared to males, and for Black and Hispanic groups compared to Whites. For studies conducted within the United States, the effect sizes were stronger among samples collected post Roe vs. Wade than those prior to the legalization of abortion indicating that the dysgenic trend may be stronger when women are afforded that option.

Details
Author

Heeney, Michael

Title

A META-ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL COGNITIVE ABILITY AND FERTILITY

Physical Description

1 online resource (53 pages) : PDF

Date

2018

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Empirical studies of the relationship between general cognitive ability and fertility span nearly a century. Reported effects generated through previous studies vary widely, and are believed to reflect differences in: 1) sample characteristics (e.g., gender, race, geographic region), and 2) methodological differences (e.g., different assessments of cognitive ability, range restriction, age of sample). The purpose of this study is to conduct a quantitative literature review using meta-analytic procedures. A thorough search identified 17 unique datasets that passed the inclusion criteria. The overall weighted effect was r = -.11. Analysis of variation in effect sizes due to methodological factors found significant differences due to age of sample (i.e., whether or not fertility was completed) with larger effects seen when fertility had not yet been completed. Further moderator analyses yielded stronger effects for females compared to males, and for Black and Hispanic groups compared to Whites. For studies conducted within the United States, the effect sizes were stronger among samples collected post Roe vs. Wade than those prior to the legalization of abortion indicating that the dysgenic trend may be stronger when women are afforded that option.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Psychology

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Cognitive Ability
Dysgenic Fertility
Meta-Analysis

Subject Area

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Reeve, Charlie
Demakis, George

Committee Members

McAnulty, Richard

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2018.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Heeney_uncc_0694N_11610

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:887