A reversal of the Flynn effect for spatial perception in German-speaking countries

Autor(en)

Jakob Pietschnig, Georg Gittler

Abstrakt

Generational IQ changes (the Flynn effect) have been shown to be predominantly positive but differentiated according to IQ domains and countries. However, evidence from recent studies points towards a decrease of the Flynn effect globally or even a reversal in some countries. In the present meta-analysis, we show an inverse u-shaped trajectory of IQ test performance changes in a large number of samples (k = 96; N = 13,172) on a well-known test for spatial perception (the three-dimensional cubes test, 3DC) in German-speaking countries over 38 years (1977–2014). Assessment of both item response theory-based measures as well as more standard measures of classical test theory showed initial increases and a subsequent decrease of performance when controlling for age, sample type (general population vs. mixed samples vs. university students) and sex. Our results suggest saturation and diminishing returns of IQ increasing factors (e.g., life history speed) whilst negative associations of IQ changes with psychometric g may have led to the observed IQ score decrease in more recent years.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie

Journal

Intelligence: a multidisciplinary journal

Band

53

Seiten

145-153

Anzahl der Seiten

9

ISSN

0160-2896

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2015.10.004

Publikationsdatum

11-2015

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

501004 Differentielle Psychologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/232ec7e3-dc91-4448-9db1-8d683267bc29