Names vs. academic results...?

Question

My mother was just reading an article in the newspaper about children give 'lower class' name (eg. Bruce, Wayne, Sharron. No offense.) or girls with 'girly' names or children with strangely spelled names are more likely to fail in maths and science.

Would you agree?

This was in the Otago Daily Times World Focus 7/13/07. Written by Anushka Asthana. The Observer London.

Answer 1

I really can't agree or disagree. I have no idea. If the data collection and statistical work were done correctly, then the results are what they are. However, that tells us nothing regarding cause and effect. A given name is not going to impede a child's academic performance, i.e., unless he is treated differently because of his or her name.

Most likely, there is a common thread back to a "community", or social economic group, where education is not highly valued, and there is a concurrent cultural propensity to select certain names. Remember, parents pick the names, and parents have the greatest influence over their children's education.

Asian girls, in the U.S., are often cited for their exceptional performance on the SAT, i.e., Scholastic Aptitude Test. Thus, one may be able to draw a correlation between names, and success in math and science.

Answer 2

I have never heard of that before, but I suppose anything is possible. I once meet a guy in the Solomon Islands called Madison.

Answer 3

...and people who did this research were most likely stupid. I mean, how could they find a correlation between names and math & science. This conclusion really makes me sick. Which newspaper was your mom reading? I am hoping it is not a tabloid.