A cross-cultural study of parents' estimates of their own and their children's intelligence in a sample of Black and Indian South Africans.

Abstract

This study investigated Black and Indian South African's estimates of their own intelligence

and that of their first two children. Parents gave estimates for seven types of intelligence

(Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences) and overall intelligence. The purpose of this

study was to establish if gender and/or cultural differences existed in the estimates of

intelligence. The participants were asked to complete a brief one-page questionnaire, the

'estimates of intelligence' questionnaire, which has been used in previous studies in this field

(Furnham et al, 2004; Furnham et al, 2002a; Furnham & Mkhize, 2002; Furnham, 2000;

Furnham et al, 1999; Furnham & Baguma, 1999, Furnham & Gasson, 1998).

The results indicated that Indian South Africans gave higher estimates of intelligence than

Black South Africans for their own intelligence and that of their children (first and secondborn

children). In addition, mothers were found to give higher self-estimates for musical

intelligence than their male counterparts. No gender differences were found for parents'

estimates of their first and second-born children. In comparing parents' estimates of their

own intelligence as compared to their children, parents gave higher estimates of their own

intelligence. The predictors of overall intelligence were also explored. Parents were also

asked to answer six close-ended questions, which investigated their views of intelligence and

intelligence tests.