弗林效应the Flynn Effect.doc

What is the Flynn EffectThe Flynn effect is a theory which emphasizes the fact that average intelligence quotient (IQ) scores have risen over generations. James R. Flynn was the first person to systematically classify the IQ level comparison between successive generations.This effect has been observed across cultures, although in varying degrees. You would have come across people, or even you might have noticed that now-a-days children are more intelligent or quick to absorb a new concept. This noticeable difference between generations has been scientifically put forth by Flynn and several other researchers. James Flynn is a political scientist from New Zealand, who put forth this observation, although it was substantiated by various other psychologists and academicians.The Flynn EffectA standard IQ test administered to people from various generations has conclusively proved the fact that there has been a linear and uninterrupted increase in the average human intellectual capabilities. These test scores were normalized for every study being conducted. Normalization gives the average score for a particular group of people. The same test was administered to the next generation and the normalized result was compared with the previous test. The results have confirmed a higher intelligence quotient (IQ) level. According to Flynn, these effects are due to a combination of factors which undergo a drastic change with each successive generation.The cognitive psychology of a succeeding generation has a lot of stimulation for the abstract mind, and hence a better interpretative ability to assimilate these ideas. This demands a lot of thinking and reasoning from an average human brain. A simple example can be the scientific advancement which has undergone a sea of change. A person now in his 40s had limited access to technological inventions, the web, or mobile communication in his childhood. In stark contrast to this, consider his son born in the 1990s, who is quite adept and comfortable using these advancements. Even though he is using these technologies unknowingly, (his brain comprehends more facts than what his fathers did, at his age) the average effort put in by his brain to understand a particular system is higher than his fathers brain. This can be due to variety of reasons like better nutrition, large scale exposure to many concepts at a relatively tender age, interactive media and so on.The Flynn effect is more evident in a rapidly developing country like India. The prior generation had a relatively easier access to its premier educational institutions, as the number of applicants for the seats was relatively less. Indias economy, health facilities, exposure to new facets of development and various such parameters have risen at a much faster pace in the past decade. This has created a huge demand for skilled professionals and an increased awareness among its burgeoning middle class about the importance of getting into premier institutes. Thus, although the intake has been increased negligibly, there has been an astounding rise in the number of students clearing the tests. This, despite the fact that the entrance tests have increased their difficulty level, which reiterates the fact that the general level has increased for a given set of population.Contradictions to the Flynn EffectThis was an example of what the Flynn effect tried to suggest. However, there have been certain contradictory studies emerging, which undermine the Flynn effect to a certain extent. For example, researchers Herrnstein and Murray had a theory which states that the Flynn effect is not observed for all levels of ability, and in fact its more predominantly observed in people with low abilities. In other words, people with low IQ levels have demonstrated a noticeable rise in their abilities as compared to higher IQ people. Thus, for instance, people with learning disabilities might show a steep rise in IQ in accordance with the Flynn effect, but the same change might not be observed for people with a higher IQ. It is a characteristic of the lower segment of IQ and not clearly demonstrated in people with better cognitive abilities.There have been studies like the one conducted by Teasdale and Owen in Denmark, which suggest the end or stagnation of the Flynn effect. In their assessment of Danish youth for the period from 1959 to 2004, the progression seemed to have reached a plateau and receded. The latest performance pattern was pretty similar to that observed before 1990.The Flynn effect explains the rise in general IQ level over a period of time. But in order to successfully establish the credibility of this effect, more research and a generalized study by different researchers needs to be done.By Prashant Magar=The Flynn EffectOriginally prepared by: Charles Graham (fall 2001)Revised: Jonathan Plucker (fall 2002)The Flynn Effect deals with the issue of how the general IQ scores of a population change over time. Below are three graphs indicating possible trends and fluctuations of IQ scores over time. Click on the image which mostaccurately portrays how youthink IQ scores have changed with time? Outline(back to top)Introduction How large are the IQ gains? Where is the IQ test data from? Whatare possible causes for the Flynn Effect? Why must IQ tests be constantly restandardized? Who has written about the Flynn Effect? Introduction(back to outline)In his study of IQ tests scores for different populations over the past sixty years, James R. Flynn discovered that IQ scores increased from one generation to the next for all of the countries for which data existed (Flynn, 1994). This interesting phenomena has been called the Flynn Effect. Many of the questions about why this effect occurs have not yet been answered by researchers. This site attempts to explain the issues involved in a way that will better help you to understand the Flynn Effect. It also provides references for further inquiry. How large are the IQ gains? (back to outline)Research shows that IQ gains have been mixed for different countries. In general, countries have seen generational increases between 5 and 25 points. The largest gains appear to occur on tests that measure fluid intelligence (Gf) rather than crystallized intelligence (Gc). Fluid Intelligence Tests like the Ravens, the Norwegian matrices, the Belgian Shapes test, the Jenkins test, and the Horn test are examples of tests that attempt to measure fluid intelligence. These tests try to emphasize problem solving and minimize a reliance on specific skills or familiarity with words and symbols. These tests on average have shown an increase of about 15 points or one standard deviation per generation (Flynn, 1994)(Flynn, 1987). Deary (2001) notes that it is these types of tests (i.e., culturally reduced) on which we would not expect to see score increases if the cause of the increases was due to educational factors.Crystallized Intelligence Tests like the Wechsler-Binet and purely verbal tests measure crystallized intelligence in addition to fluid intelligence. Some questions on these tests measure problem solving abilities but others measure learned information such as vocabulary and math skills. The IQ gains for these tests have been more moderate, with an average of about 9 points per generation (Flynn, 1994)(Flynn, 1987). Where is the IQ test data from?(back to outline)The countries from which data has been gathered to research the increase of IQ scores over time are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Denmark, East Germany, France, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, and West Germany (Flynn, 1994). What are possible causes for the Flynn Effect?(back to outline)What do intelligence tests really test? To what extent do they measure learning vs. raw intelligence vs. some other factor that is correlated with intelligence? The answers to these questions are still being researched by scholars around the world. Flynn originally offered three categories of potential explanations: Artifacts (e.g., of sampling, improvement in early childhood education), Test Sophistication, and Actual Intelligence Increases. Deary (2001) discusses the weaknesses of the possible explanations, illustrating the complexity of the Flynn Effect. Flynns Hypothesis The hypothesis that best fits the results is that IQ tests do not measure intelligence but rather correlate with a weak causal link to intelligence. (Flynn, 1987). Based on the presence of the effect on nonverbal tests such as the Ravens Matrices, Flynn believes that the increase is actually an increase in abstract problem solving rather than intelligence. Flynn (1994, 1999) favors environmental explanations for the increase in test scores.Education a cause of IQ gains?In many countries the level of education of the general public is increasing. People are spending a larger amount of their time learning and being examined in formal educational settings. In some cases IQ gains are highly correlated to increased years spent in formal education. Again, several scholars point at the increase in culture-free tests as evidence against an educational cause.The Brand hypothesis: Societal changes causing IQ gains?Brand suggested that societal changes that teach testing with time limits could be a cause of IQ gains. The idea behind this hypothesis is that people in our society have learned to work better within a limited time frame. This societal trend allows later generations to score better on timed tests because they make intelligent guesses and dont waste time trying to get every test item correct. Although this hypothesis seemed promising, there has been research that contradicts its fundamental assumptions (Flynn, 1994)Better nutrition a cause of IQ gains?It has also been hypothesized that IQ gains are the results of better world wide nutrition. The idea behind this hypothesis is that better nourished brains would allow subjects to perform better on IQ tests as well as in everyday activities. Experimental data trying to prove this theory are also mixed leading one to believe that nutrition, though a possible contributing cause, cannot account entirely for the massive gains in IQ measured around the world (Flynn, 1994). Why must IQ tests be routinely restandardized?(back to outline)Because populations experience IQ gains over time, IQ tests must be constantly restandardized so that subjects are not scored against inaccurate norms. Using obsolete IQ norms can cause problems especially when comparing scores between different groups and populations. Flynn documents an example where scores from a group of Chinese Americans were being compared to an earlier generation of white Americans. This simple mistake caused the researchers to believe that they were working with an elite IQ group when in actuality they were working with a group of high achievers with comparable IQs to their peers (Flynn, 1991). In another case documented by Flynn, IQ scores were compared against obsolete norms to incorrectly show large increases in IQ between children adopted into good homes and their biological mothers (Flynn, 1984). A widely held hypothesis is that people lose fluid intelligence as they age. This phenomena is caused by comparing the IQ tests of elderly people with todays young people. However, when compared to the IQ scores of youth in their own era (a half a century before) the IQ losses with age are minimal (Raven, 1992, pp. G22-G26). In a final example, Flynn explains that the WISC, an intelligence test used widely in the United States, was not restandardized for 25 years between 1947 and 1972. This comparison of IQ scores to obsolete norms caused the number of children who were officially classified as mentally retarded to drop from 8.8 million in 1947 to 2.6 million in 1972 (Flynn, 1985).A note of caution: The Flynn Effect illustrates the difficulty of comparing test results over time, but it says little about the validity of the tests within a given time period (Flynn talks about the validity within generations). Who has written about the Flynn Effect?(back to outline) Deary, I. J. (2001). Intelligence: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.An accessible and colorful analysis of a wide range of intelligence topics. The chapter on the Flynn Effect (Chapter 6) is among the best in the book.Flynn, J. R. (1984). The mean IQ of Americans: Massive gains 1932 to 1978. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 29-51. Flynn, J. R. (1985). Wechsler intelligence tests: Do we really have a criterion of mental retardation? American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 236-244. Flynn, J. R. (1987). Massive IQ gains in 14 nations: What IQ tests really measure. Psychological Bulletin, 101,171-191. Flynn, J. R. (1991). Asian Americans: Achievement beyond IQ. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. Flynn, J. R. (1994). IQ gains over time. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human intelligence (pp. 617-623). New York: Macmillan.Flynn, J. R. (1999). Searching for justice: The discovery of IQ gains over time. American Psychologist, 54, 5-20.Of Flynns numerous publications on his intelligence work, the 1994 and 1999 papers provide good summaries of his positions on the Flynn Effect. The 1999 article contains greater elaboration on his opinions regarding social justice than is found in the other publications. Readers interested in Flynns methodology should consult the 1984 and 1987 articles.Jensen, A. R. (1989). Rising IQ without increasing g? A review of The Milwaukee Project: Preventing mental retardation in children at risk. Development Review, 9, 234-258. Lynn, R. (1987). Japan: Land of the rising IQ, A reply to Flynn. Bulletin of the British Psychological Society, 40, 464-468. Neisser, U. (Ed.). (1998). The rising curve. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.This edited volume is highly recommended. It is especially useful for readers interested in the wide range of possible explanations for the Flynn Effect.Raven, J. C., Court, J. H., & Raven, J. (1992). Manual for Ravens progressive matrices and vocabulary scales (section 3). Oxford: Oxford Psychologist Press.=Flynn effectFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaHuman intelligenceAbilities and TraitsAbstract thoughtCommunication CreativityEmotional IntelligenceKnowledge Learning MemoryProblem solving Reaction timeReasoning UnderstandingVisual ProcessingModels and TheoriesIntelligence quotientGeneral intelligence factorFluid and crystallized intelligenceCattell-Horn-Carroll theoryTriarchic theory of intelligenceTheory of multiple intelligencesFields of studyCognitive epidemiologyEnvironment and intelligenceEvolution of human intelligenceHeritability of IQImpact of health on intelligenceNeuroscience and intelligencePsychometricsRace and intelligenceThe Flynn effect is the name given to a substantial and long-sustained increase in intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world. When intelligence quotient (IQ) tests are initially standardized using a sample of test-takers, by convention the average of the test results is set to 100 and their standard deviation is set to 15 IQ points. When IQ tests are revised they are again standardized using a new sample of test-takers, usually born more recently than the first. Again, the average result is set to 100. However, when the new test subjects take the older tests, in almost every case their average scores are significantly above 100.Test score increases have been continuous and approximately linear from the earliest years of testing to the present. For the Ravens Progressive Matrices test, subjects born over a 100 year period were compared in Des Moines, Iowa, and separately in Dumfries, Scotland. Improvements were remarkably consistent across the whole period, in both countries.1 This effect of an apparent increase in IQ has also been observed in various other parts of the world, though the rates of increase vary.2There are numerous proposed explanations of the Flynn effect, as well as some skepticism about its implications. Similar improvements have been reported for other cognitions such as semantic and episodic memory.3 Recent research suggests that the Flynn effect may have ended in at least a few developed nations, possibly allowing national differences in IQ scores4 to diminish if the Flynn effect continues in nations with lower average national IQs.5Contents 1 Origin of the term2 The rise in IQ2.1 The Flynn effect and intelligence models3 Proposed explanations3.1 Schooling and test familiarity3.2 Generally more stimulating environment3.3 Nutrition3.4 Infectious diseases3.5 Heterosis3.6 Studies looking at multiple factors 4 Adjustments due to the Flynn effect 5 Possible end of progression 6 The Flynn effect and IQ group differences 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Origin of the termThe Flynn effect is named for James R. Flynn, who did much to document it and promote awareness of its implications. The term itself was coined by Herrnstein and Murray, authors of The Bell Curve.6 J. Philippe Rushton has argued that the effect should be called the Lynn-Flynn effect, after Richard Lynn, because it was actually the Lynn (1982)7 article in Nature that first identified the trend in recent times (among the Japanese).8 The rise in IQIQ tests are updated periodically. For example, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (W