Heredity and environment : a critical survey of recently published material on twins and foster children / by R.S. Woodworth ; a report prepared for the Committee on Social Adjustment.

  • Woodworth, Robert Sessions, 1869-1962.
Date:
[1941]
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Heredity and environment : a critical survey of recently published material on twins and foster children / by R.S. Woodworth ; a report prepared for the Committee on Social Adjustment. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/108 (page VII)
    FOREWORD Dr. R. S. Woodworth's critical survey of the methods and findings of nature and nurture research was prepared at the request of the Committee on Social Adjustment of the Social Science Research Council. Dr. Woodworth was asked to ap praise recent studies of foster children, including studies of twins reared apart, which attacked the problem of the influ ence of heredity and environmental factors in intelligence and achievement in order that there might be available to the Committee an integrated statement of tested research pro cedures and resulting knowledge. The Committee has found the report prepared by Dr. Woodworth of great value in clari fying its own thinking, and believes therefore that it will be helpful not only to those engaged in research on twins and foster children but also to all interested in the role of the genetic and environmental factors in human behavior. Dr. Woodworth has analyzed with his characteristic scien tific objectivity and clarity of expression the research results already achieved. He has indicated that these studies are in substantial agreement as to the indispensability of both genetic and environmental factors in mental development and has suggested further research necessary to obtain valid con clusions concerning unsolved crucial problems. He also calls attention to the importance in future studies of integrating the points of view and the methods of research from the fields of anthropology, genetics, psychology, and sociology. His analysis, it is hoped, will stimulate research that will take full account of the deficiencies and shortcomings of past studies as well as of their positive contributions to methodology. This monograph stems from the Council's interest in a series