American IQ Gains From 1932 to 2002: The WISC Subtests and Educational Progress

Abstract

(1989) shows a difference of only 2.5 points. However, they have only five subtests in common when full scale IQ is calculated. If one simulates a comparison of the WISC-III and WISC-IV standardization samples on the 10 subtests of the WISC-III, IQ gains over the intervening 12.75 years were no less than 3.83 points, yielding a minimum estimate of 0.300 points per year. Finally, WISC subtest trends taken in conjunction with "the Nation's Report Card" (NAEP test trends) provide a fascinating picture of the evolution of cognitive skills in America over the last two generations. Key words: Flynn effect, IQ gains, education gainsIQ trends over time are the product of factors that fluctuate over time and therefore must be estimated anew whenever fresh data become available. We are not sure of the exact causes, but putative causes for the post-1932 era, at least in developed na-

The Flynn Effect and Its Clinical Implications

“…This will more accurately take into account the changing nature of the FE curve over time with different constructs, and in different cultures. Flynn and Weiss (2007) studied the FE on the WISC from its first edition to the WISC-IV. The date of reference for the standardization of the first WISC was 1947.5 and it was 2001.75 for the WISC-IV.…”

The Flynn effect and its relevance to neuropsychology

“…For instance, the socalled ACID profile from the children's Wechsler IQ test (relatively low scaled scores on Arithmetic, Coding, Information, and Digit Span) is commonly interpreted as an indicator of poor attention, impaired auditory short-term memory, and learning difficulties (e.g., Rourke, Bakker, Fisk, & Strang, 1983). Although that interpretation might have been valid with respect to the 1949 WISC during the 1950s, the same pattern would require a different interpretation today because some of the subtest scaled scores would have been affected more than others by nearly 60 years of exposure to the Flynn effect (Flynn & Weiss, 2006). Continuing to use an old test and its old norms is not an effective means of preserving the validity of clinical decision rules.…”

“…It should be noted, however, that Flynn's concept of social multipliers resembles the venerable neuropsychological principle of dissociation (e.g., Luria, 1973). Flynn (2006) has described an analogy between cultural variables, which may cause certain cognitive skills to be developed preferentially, and brain damage, which may selectively impair some cognitive functions without affecting other functions. Both kinds of dissociation-societal and pathological-are means of fractionating the global pattern of general intelligence.…”

6–89 metų asmenų intelekto gebėjimų raiška

“…Jis pastebėjo, kad kiekviena nauja karta tuos pačius intelekto testus atlieka vis geriau, gauna aukštesnius IQ įverčius (Flynn, 2009). IQ augimo tempas yra 3-6 IQ balai per dešimtmetį (priklausomai nuo naudoto intelekto matavimo testo) (Flynn, Weiss, 2007). Dėl tokio spartaus IQ balų augimo intelekto testų normos nuolat didėja, o vyresnio amžiaus žmonėms kyla vis daugiau sunkumų atliekant intelekto testų užduotis.…”