The Flynn effect for fluid IQ may not generalize to all ages or ability levels: a population-based study of 10,000 US adolescents.

ABSTRACT: Generational changes in IQ (the Flynn Effect) have been extensively researched and debated. Within the US, gains of 3 points per decade have been accepted as consistent across age and ability level, suggesting that tests with outdated norms yield spuriously high IQs. However, findings are generally based on small samples, have not been validated across ability levels, and conflict with reverse effects recently identified in Scandinavia and other countries. Using a well-validated measure of fluid intelligence, we investigated the Flynn Effect by comparing scores normed in 1989 and 2003, among a representative sample of American adolescents ages 13-18 (n=10,073). Additionally, we examined Flynn Effect variation by age, sex, ability level, parental age, and SES. Adjusted mean IQ differences p

SUBMITTER: Platt JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7176308 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature