Professor of Anthropology Michael Herzfeld echoed Waters' criticism.

"I have yet to see evidence that would convince me that IQ is related to race," said Professor of Anthropology Michael Herzfeld.

But Associate Professor of Psychology Gene M. Heyman said the differences in IQ test scores between Blacks and whites, if not the conclusions the book draws, are indisputable.

"There is about a 15-point difference between Blacks and whites on an IQ test," Heyman said. "No one is saying that's not true."

The genetic basis of IQ, if not a link between IQ and race, is an established fact in the scientific world, he said.

"I think everybody in the field now agrees that IQ is heritable," Heyman said. "I think everybody agrees that IQ is correlated with various measures of social success."

Professors also question the book's emphasis on IQ as an effective measure of intelligence.

"It's true to a limited extent that IQ plays a role as a kind of capacity to learn, but it's not a measure of actual learning," said Ford Professor of Social Sciences Emeritus Daniel Bell, who argued against some of Herrnstein's earlier work in a 1976 book. "To use it as a generalized tool, like a measuring rod or stick, would be wrong."

One faculty member defended Herrnstein, however, saying attacks on his work are political and come mainly from liberals worried about social change.

"He just came under attack for his views, which seemed to set limits on the possibilities of social reform," said Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. '53. "He was really a bogey man for the left."

Scientific Validity

Some Harvard faculty members said they believed that Herrnstein's research methods were impeccable, while others found them unreliable.

In 1971, students picketed lectures for Herrnstein's class after he wrote a controversial article about IQ.

"What is really the point in books of the sort is to read the original studies that they cite," said Henderson Professor of the Psychology of Personality Brendan A. Maher, who said he has read a good part of the book. "The book's use of other people's research was done in a reasonably valid way. They did go and look at the questions that should be looked at."

One member of the sociology department, however, blasted the methods used in researching The Bell Curve.