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The Flynn effect can become embedded in tests: How cross-sectional age norms can corrupt longitudinal research

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  • O'Keefe, Patrick
  • Rodgers, Joseph Lee

Abstract

The Flynn Effect (FE; Flynn, 1984, 1987) is the decades-long increase in measured mean IQ of approximately 1/3 point per year, observed in industrialized nations over the course of at least a century. An obvious and practical implication of the FE is that the FE can cause test norm obsolescence. If norms from 1970 were used today, the average score would be approximately a standard deviation above the original mean. A more subtle effect was suggested by Mingroni (2007): Age-normed tests could have a FE “built-in” through the norming process. His observation can be true in any case where there are cohort differences (between- or within-family); it is almost certain to occur in cases where cross-sectional samples are used to age norm in the presence of cohort effects. We illuminate this process in several ways, because it can significantly impact longitudinal research. If the “built in FE” hypothesis is supported, then the FE potentially affects resulting scores assigned to test-takers from all age-normed cognitive tests exhibiting a FE. A series of graphic simulations demonstrate the logic. Following, analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Children data suggest that the Flynn Effect is indeed built into the PIAT-Math scores.

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  • O'Keefe, Patrick & Rodgers, Joseph Lee, 2020. "The Flynn effect can become embedded in tests: How cross-sectional age norms can corrupt longitudinal research," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:82:y:2020:i:c:s0160289620300593
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2020.101481
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    Cited by:

    1. O'Keefe, Patrick & Wänström, Linda & Rodgers, Joseph Lee, 2023. "Reframing the clouded scientific spectacles of the Flynn effect: A view through two lenses," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Vasilios Andrikopoulos, 2021. "Exploring the Validity and Reliability of the WISC-IV: A Review of the Literature," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(2), pages 101-101, December.
    3. Rodgers, Joseph Lee & O'Keefe, Patrick, 2023. "A synthetic theory to integrate and explain the causes of the Flynn effect: The Parental Executive Model," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

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