Titre du document / Document title

A long-term rise and recent decline in intelligence test performance : The Flynn Effect in reverse

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

TEASDALE Thomas W. ⁽¹⁾ ; OWEN David R. ⁽²⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Njalsgade 88, 2300 Copenhagen, DANEMARK
⁽²⁾ Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, NY 11210, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

In the 1980s reviewed evidence indicated that, through the preceding decades of the last century, population performance on intelligence tests had been rising substantially, typically about 3-5 IQ points per decade, in developed countries. The phenomenon, now termed the 'Flynn Effect', has been variously attributed to biological and/or to social and educational factors. Although there is some evidence to suggest a slowing of the effect through the 1990s, only little evidence, to our knowledge, has yet been presented to show an arrest or reversal of the trend. Substantially replicating a recent report from Norway, we here report intelligence test results from over 500,000 young Danish men, tested between 1959 and 2004, showing that performance peaked in the late 1990s, and has since declined moderately to pre-1991 levels. A contributing factor in this recent fall could be a simultaneous decline in proportions of students entering 3-year advanced-level school programs for 16-18 year olds.

Revue / Journal Title

Personality and individual differences   ISSN 0191-8869   CODEN PEIDD9 

Source / Source

2005, vol. 39, n^o4, pp. 837-843 [7 page(s) (article)] (16 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI  (1980) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Human ; Intelligence quotient ; Intellectual ability ; Time variation ; Evolution ; Intelligence ; Performance ; Psychometrics ; Intelligence test ; Long term ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Homme ; Quotient intellectuel ; Aptitude intellectuelle ; Variation temporelle ; Evolution ; Intelligence ; Performance ; Psychométrie ; Test intelligence ; Long terme ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hombre ; Cociente intelectual ; Aptitud intelectual ; Variación temporal ; Evolución ; Inteligencia ; Rendimiento ; Psicometría ; Prueba inteligencia ; Largo plazo ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

Flynn effect ; Intelligence ; Denmark ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 18816, 35400013148722.0140