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Reframing the clouded scientific spectacles of the Flynn effect: A view through two lenses

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  • O'Keefe, Patrick
  • Wänström, Linda
  • Rodgers, Joseph Lee

Abstract

Flynn argued that the Flynn effect was due to an increasing use of “scientific spectacles” among the general population (Flynn, 2010), yet the Flynn effect itself has been viewed through clouded scientific spectacles. Most research has focused on Flynn's main finding: IQ scores have increased over time. Flynn (1987) presumed the effect was a cohort (generational) effect, yet a variety of within- and between-person processes could give rise to the observed secular changes. Many theories have been put forth as to the fundamental cause of the Flynn effect. Frequently ignored is what a specific cause implies the Flynn effect would look like at different levels of analysis and in the context of different research designs. In this paper we present two ‘lenses’ with which to view a potential causal model of the Flynn effect, in the hopes of closing some of the current gaps emerging from past research. First, we propose an examination of within- versus between-person processes. Relatedly, we propose that the exclusive focus on normed measures of intelligence has hampered understanding of what functional form the Flynn effect might take, particularly during development. Consideration of “raw” intelligence is likely to be fruitful. For our second lens, we consider the framework of age-period-cohort modeling to categorize what kind of effect a given model implies. We examine several causal theories of the Flynn effect through these lenses. Viewed through our lenses, we find that certain causal theories are, perhaps, somewhat incomplete in their specification of all the relevant processes.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:97:y:2023:i:c:s0160289623000168
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2023.101735
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Flynn, James R., 2009. "Requiem for nutrition as the cause of IQ gains: Raven's gains in Britain 1938-2008," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 18-27, March.
    2. Pietschnig, Jakob & Deimann, Pia & Hirschmann, Nicole & Kastner-Koller, Ursula, 2021. "The Flynn effect in Germanophone preschoolers (1996–2018): Small effects, erratic directions, and questionable interpretations," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    3. Keyes, Katherine M. & Utz, Rebecca L. & Robinson, Whitney & Li, Guohua, 2010. "What is a cohort effect? Comparison of three statistical methods for modeling cohort effects in obesity prevalence in the United States, 1971-2006," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(7), pages 1100-1108, April.
    4. 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).
    5. Ethan Fosse & Christopher Winship, 2019. "Bounding Analyses of Age-Period-Cohort Effects," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(5), pages 1975-2004, October.
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    1. Rodgers, Joseph Lee, 2023. "Eleven articles and 27 authors pay tribute to James Flynn: A summary and critique of special issue articles on the Flynn effect," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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