[ExI] (no subject)

[spike at rainier66.com]

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat <extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org> On Behalf Of
BillK via extropy-chat
Subject: Re: [ExI] (no subject)

On Tue, 14 Feb 2023 at 18:21, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
> puzzle:
>
>>... Imagine a graph with a normal curve exhibited.  Now imagine a curve on
the same graph that is platykurtic:  higher frequencies at both the top and
the bottom end.  Fewer near average.
> Given that what is being measured is an ability, will the group with the
non-normal curve eventually outdo the normal curve group, which it does not
now do?
>
> bill w
> _______________________________________________


>...I think it might depend on what ability or trait you are measuring.
e.g. if it was intelligence, the platykurtic group would have more at the
top and bottom IQ level and a wider spread at a lower middle IQ level.
So with more geniuses available, this group might outdo the mesokurtic
(normal) group.
If the group ability is not dependent on having more top performers, but
rather a greater number of better mid-level performers, then the normal
distribution group might be the best.

See: <https://www.simplypsychology.org/kurtosis.html>
What is Kurtosis?
By Dr. Saul McLeod, 2019


BillK
_______________________________________________

Ja, BillK when even discussing intelligence, we must clarify intelligence in
what?  We have identified a number of subdivisions of the question in which
the different types of intelligence are nearly orthogonal.  We might be able
to argue they roughly correlate, and I think they do to some extent.  

This is to me an interesting question, since I work with teams for American
Math Competition.  In those types of contests, a score is derived by adding
up the number of correct answers (which is standard practice) but this
throws away information in order to reduce the score to a single number:
some questions are harder than others.  On AMC, they put the questions in
order from easiest to hardest.  If one starts at the end and works forward,
getting 10 questions right, that is far more impressive than starting up
front and moving back, also getting 10 right.

However... in general while everyone agrees the questions get harder, we
disagree on what order they should be in.

With regard to BillW's question, it now isn't clear it has an objective
answer.  But we might be able to make some kind of test which could be used
for experimental data.

The classic PSAT and SAT is a fun laboratory for this sort of thing, in
spite of the recent damage to its reputation from having people successfully
hire ringers.  That can happen, but it is probably so seldom that wouldn't
wreck the value of the data completely.

spike