Aim: Kendler et al.

's (2015) study aimed to investigate the impact of genetic and environmental factors on
cognitive ability, specifically IQ.

Procedure: The researchers conducted a rigorous adoption study using a sample of male-male sibling pairs in
Sweden. They identified 436 male siblings where one was raised by biological parents and the other was
adopted. IQ scores were obtained from the Military Conscription Register, which included cognitive
assessment data for all 18-year-old men in Sweden. The educational attainment of both biological and adoptive
parents was also considered. The adoption process in Sweden was characterized by careful screening of
potential adoptive parents due to a higher demand for child adoption than the number of available children.

Results:

1. The mean educational level was significantly higher in adoptive parents compared to biological
parents.

2. A modest correlation (r = 0.18) was found between the educational levels of biological and adoptive
parents, suggesting some effects of selective placement.

3. Cognitive ability was found to be environmentally malleable, with a 5-point increase in average IQ by
age 18.

4. Results also indicated the heritability of intelligence, as evidenced by the correlation between the
cognitive ability of adopted children and the educational level of biological parents.

5. An additive influence of both environment and genetics was suggested, with the highest IQ scores
observed in adopted children from well-educated biological families adopted into well-educated
adoptive families.

Evaluation:

1. Pros:

 Rigorous adoption study design with a large sample size.

 Utilization of a comprehensive national register for data collection.

 Consideration of both environmental (adoptive) and genetic (biological) factors in assessing

cognitive ability.

2. Cons:

 The modest correlation between the educational levels of biological and adoptive parents may
not fully capture the complexity of environmental influences.

 The study focused on male-male sibling pairs, limiting the generalizability of findings to
other demographic groups.

 The study's reliance on IQ scores as the sole measure of cognitive ability might not
encompass the full spectrum of intellectual capabilities.