Top 10 Replicated Findings From Behavioral Genetics

The classic paper from Robert Plomin, John C. DeFries, Valerie S. Knopik, and Jenae M. Neiderhiser.

"In the context of current concerns about replication in psychological science, we describe 10 findings from behavioral genetic research that have replicated robustly. These are “big” findings, both in terms of effect size and potential impact on psychological science, such as linearly increasing heritability of intelligence from infancy (20%) through adulthood (60%).

Four of our top 10 findings involve the environment, discoveries that could have been found only with genetically sensitive research designs. We also consider reasons specific to behavioral genetics that might explain why these findings replicate."

James Thompson has a good post which summarises the theses: "10 Replicants in Search of Fame", with an endearing introduction centred around Philip K. Dick's aphorism:

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.

I used to think that as the genomic revolution rolled on, social scientists everywhere would wake up, smell the coffee .. and proceed to revolutionise their disciplines.

That was until I encountered Conley and Fletcher.