First off, I want to explain that I am truly enjoying The Spirt Level and it's message. I support the message and think that educators (at all levels) can glean much from reading this piece. I think that the hard data is convincing. Obviously, the strengths lie in the data, and the correlations of equity (or disparity) and reading rate, happiness, and even task completion rate all make sense to me....HOWEVER...
I honestly can't help but think that there is so much more that they are leaving out. For every scenario that compares two variables, I have a list of questions that I would like to know. For example, what about relativity and cultural differences? Behind each chart lies a question and a story that explains that question.
Data is limited by the human condition. Behaviors can be counted, and beliefs and values can be communicated, but can readers really assume that income inequality causes all of the issues outlined in the book? Here the process of induction, moving from the specific to the general, is fallible, for I suspect that the assumption of causation is simply too extreme. I would like to view the data in its "raw" stage and make that determination on my own rather than make assumptions or generalizations based on the text.
Is the correlation less compelling? No, not really.....I simply believe that the data can take us only so far and that we need to share more of the human story in order to create new generalizations. (Induction is a complex, beautiful thing!)
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