Brain surgeons and rocket scientists no brighter than the rest of us, study finds

[PierreV]

Courtesy of the Guardian and BMJ

Brain surgeons and rocket scientists no brighter than the rest of us, study finds

Data from 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons suggests they are not necessarily cleverer than general population

www.theguardian.com

Full paper

“It’s not rocket science” and “It’s not brain surgery”—“It’s a walk in the park”: prospective comparative study

Objective To compare cognitive testing scores in neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers to help settle the age old argument of which phrase—“It’s not brain surgery” or “It’s not rocket science”—is most deserved. Design International prospective comparative study. Setting United Kingdom, Europe...

www.bmj.com

 

[Blumlein 88]

Actually your thread title is not correct. Your two links show brain surgeons and rocket scientists to be overall rather similar. Neither link says they aren't brighter than the rest of us. Only that BS and RS aren't worlds better than the other group in those two.

Or as I remember from years ago something my flight instructor told me. His previous student to me dropping by for a lesson was an unusually beautiful young woman. I guess he noticed that I noticed. He said, "that right there is the smartest woman you'll see." I said, "well if she is smarter than she looks good she is smart indeed". His reply, "that woman married a neurosurgeon and has time, and money to pretty much do anything she wants." I had to agree that she was smarter than a neurosurgeon at least.

 

[mhardy6647]

so... what've they got on biochemists, eh?

 

[Blumlein 88]

so... what've they got on biochemists, eh?

I've heard biochemists smell funny? Any truth to that or not I don't know.

 

[PierreV]

Actually your thread title is not correct. Your two links show brain surgeons and rocket scientists to be overall rather similar. Neither link says they aren't brighter than the rest of us. Only that BS and RS aren't worlds better than the other group in those two.

My thread title is just the Guardian's title. I added no commentary.

It seems fair anyway.

When each group’s scores for the six domains were compared with those in the general population, only two differences were significant: the neurosurgeons’ problem solving speed was quicker (mean z score 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.41) and their memory recall speed was slower (−0.19, −0.34 to −0.04).

 

[symphara]

Did this study actually compare these groups' IQ vs the general population?

 

[Andreas007]

This study is trivial.
To be a scientist, surgeon or an engineer you don‘t need to be „bright“.
You simply have to learn and work hard and your parents must have enough resources and will to support your strengths. Then combine it with aquired skill, experience and the willingness to continuously improve and learn. That should be enough to be a “normal” scientist/engineer. But all this does not save you from being an idiot!

Then, of course, there are the ones with higher IQ who clearly can achieve more than the average.
And the “real” great minds are very rare in this world.

 

[Katji]

Bollox. The Guardian, I suppose similar incidence of rubbish to BBC.

But all this does not save you from being an idiot!

Btw, I know a surgeon who buys every audiophile power and digital decrappifier he comes across, and a special network switch.

 

[Jim Matthews]

A review of Cippola's 1st law is in order.

It's important to recognize that most systems of higher education are *not* based on selection, by merit.

Before we get smug about our chances in any highly technical field, note that these also have self corrections; your peers will count the number of botched surgeries and lost Martian rovers.

The cynical among us (raises hand) will recognize these as hallmarks required for promotion to management.

 

[MCH]

This study is trivial.
To be a scientist, surgeon or an engineer you don‘t need to be „bright“.
You simply have to learn and work hard and your parents must have enough resources and will to support your strengths. Then combine it with aquired skill, experience and the willingness to continuously improve and learn. That should be enough to be a “normal” scientist/engineer. But all this does not save you from being an idiot!

Then, of course, there are the ones with higher IQ who clearly can achieve more than the average.
And the “real” great minds are very rare in this world.

Fully agree but i would add something. On top of all that you say, people that do research do need to have a certain creativity, capacity to think outside the box or call it as you want.
Not meaning that people that don't do it can't have it, but it is very different to be an engineer or a surgeon that just applies what others have found and she/he has learned than being the one generating that knowledge.

 

[Fregly]

From skimming through, I think the the journalist who wrote the Guardian article and authors of the study are definately lower IQ than rocket scientists. That is the only solid conclusion from this one.

 

[dfuller]

It's not rocket surgery, guys...