First, this study examined genetic and environmental sources of variation in performance on a standardised test of academic achievement, the Queensland Core Skills Test (QCST) (Queensland Studies Authority, 2003a). Second, it assessed the genetic correlation among the QCST score and Verbal and Performance IQ measures using the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB), [Jackson, D. N. (1984) Multidimensional Aptitude Battery manual. Port Huron, MI:Research Psychologist Press, Inc.]. Participants were 256 monozygotic twin pairs and 326 dizygotic twin pairs aged from 15 to 18 years (mean 17 years+/-0.4 [SD]) when achievement tested, and from 15 to 22 years (mean 16 years+/-0.4 [SD]) when IQ tested. Univariate analysis indicated a heritability for the QCST of 0.72. Adjustment to this estimate due to truncate selection (downward adjustment) and positive phenotypic assortative mating (upward adjustment) suggested a heritability of 0.76 The phenotypic (0.81) and genetic (0.91) correlations between the QCST and Verbal IQ (VIQ) were significantly stronger than the phenotypic (0.57) and genetic (0.64) correlations between the QCST and Performance IQ (PIQ). The findings suggest that individual variation in QCST performance is largely due to genetic factors and that common environmental effects may be substantially accounted for by phenotypic assortative mating. Covariance between academic achievement on the QCST and psychometric IQ (particularly VIQ) is to a large extent due to common genetic influences.
G enetic and environmental sources of covariation among cognitive measures of verbal IQ, performance IQ (PIQ), academic achievement, 2-choice reaction time (CRT), inspection time (IT) and the 6 Openness facets of the NEO Personality InventoryRevised (NEO PI-R) were examined. The number of twin and twin-sibling pairs ranged from 432 (182 MZ, 350 DZ/sibling) to 1023 (273 MZ, 750 DZ/sibling) for cognitive measures, and between 432 (90 MZ, 342 DZ/sibling) -437 (91 MZ, 346 DZ/sibling) for Openness facets. Structural equation modeling best supported a model with a 3-factor additive genetic structure. A genetic general factor subsumed the 5 cognitive measures and 5 of the 6 Openness facets (Actions did not load significantly). A second additive genetic factor incorporated the 6 Openness facets, and a third additive genetic factor incorporated the 5 cognitive measures. Specific additive and dominance genetic effects were also evident, as were shared common and shared unique environmental influences, and specific unique environmental effects. The Openness facets of Ideas and Values evidenced the strongest phenotypic correlations with cognitive indices, particularly verbal measures. The genetic correlations among Openness facets and cognitive measures ranged from -.06 to .79. Results were interpreted as suggesting that Openness is related to general cognitive ability (g) through a genetic mechanism and that g engenders a minor but discernable disposition towards Openness for the majority of facets.There has been growing interest in clarifying the relationship between openness to experience (Openness) and cognitive measures such as IQ and basic mental speed tasks (e.g., Bates & Shieles, 2003; ChamorroPremuzic et al., 2005;Gignac et al., 2004). Recent evidence has indicated that measured aspects of Openness (facets) may be related to general cognitive ability (g; Chamorro-Premuzic, et al., 2005;Gignac, 2005;Gignac et al., 2004), suggesting that shared genetic influences may be implicated. In this article, we examine genetic and environmental structures underpinning relationships among the six facets of the Openness domain of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and cognitive variables including Verbal IQ (VIQ) and Performance IQ (PIQ), academic achievement (Queensland Core Skills Test [QCST]), and two measures of processing speed, choice reaction time (CRT), and inspection time (IT).Openness is one of five core domains of personality defined by the NEO PI-R. It is composed of six facets characterized by: 1. appreciation of art, poetry, music, and beauty (Aesthetics) 2. engagement of one's imagination (Fantasy) 3. valuing of emotion, and the experiencing of more intense emotions (Feelings) 4. involvement in varied experiences, and enjoyment of novelty (Actions) 5. pursuit of a manifold array of cultural and intellectual interests (Ideas) 6. questioning of conventional norms and receptivity to unconventional principles (Values; Costa & McCrae, 1992).In contrast to an abundance of studies of heritability of g, whic...
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