EVANSTON, Ill. — IQ scores significantly increased from 1932 through the 20th century all over the world, with differences ranging from roughly three to five IQ points per decade. This phenomenon is known as the “Flynn Effect.” Now, however, a new study out Northwestern University suggests a “reverse-Flynn Effect” of sorts may be taking place in the United States.
This reverse-Flynn Effect was present across a large U.S. sample covering between 2006 and 2018 in every category — except one. Still, there were consistent negative slopes among three out of four cognitive domains.
Ability scores pertaining to verbal reasoning (logic, vocabulary), matrix reasoning (visual problem solving, analogies), and letter and number series (computational/mathematical) all dropped over the course of the study period. However, scores of 3D rotation (spatial reasoning) generally increased between 2011 to 2018.
Composite ability scores (single scores derived from multiple pieces of information) were also lower across the more recent samples. These score differences persisted regardless of age, education, or gender.
Sugarcoating the findings?
Despite the observed decline in IQ scores, corresponding study author Elizabeth Dworak posits people shouldn’t read these findings and think, “Americans are getting less intelligent.
“It doesn’t mean their mental ability is lower or higher; it’s just a difference in scores that are favoring older or newer samples,” explains Dworak, a research assistant professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in a media release. “It could just be that they’re getting worse at taking tests or specifically worse at taking these kinds of tests.”
Study authors used the Synthetic Aperture Personality Assessment (SAPA) Project, a free survey-based online personality test that gives test-takers feedback focusing on 27 temperament traits (adaptability, impulsivity, anxiety, humor), in addition to their ability scores.
Survey responses were analyzed from 394,378 Americans collected between 2006 to 2018 in an attempt to examine if cognitive ability scores changed over those 13 years. A smaller cohort of individuals (303,540) was also recruited between 2011 and 2018. The 3D rotation data, though, only exists for subjects who took the survey between 2011 and 2018.
More IQ scores needed
This project did not attempt to determine the reason for the decline in IQ scores. That being said, researchers add there is no shortage of possible explanations and theories in the scientific community, ranging from poor nutrition, and worsening health to media exposures and changes to education. “There’s debate about what’s causing it, but not every domain is going down; one of them is going up,” Prof. Dworak notes. “If all the scores were going in the same direction, you could make a nice little narrative about it, but that’s not the case. We need to do more to dig into it.”
To that end, Prof. Dworak and her colleagues are now attempting to access a dataset containing 40 years worth of data in order to conduct a follow-up study.
A change in societal values may have also affected IQ scores, Prof. Dworak adds. “If you’re thinking about what society cares about and what it’s emphasizing and reinforcing every day, there’s a possibility of that being reflected in performance on an ability test,” she continues.
For example, there’s been more emphasis on STEM education in recent decades. So, does that mean other academic areas, like abstract reasoning, are receiving less attention in schools?
Yet another factor could be a drop off in motivation. Since the SAPA Project is advertised as a personality survey, individuals who enrolled may have been more engaged with sections related to the measurement of temperament and less engaged with sections seemingly unrelated to personality.
And yes, there’s some tongue-in-cheek wordplay up there in the headline.
The study is published in Intelligence.
You don’t need a study. The fact that at least 60 million people actually voted for a *President with dementia should tell you that.
Asimov sneered at IQ tests and MENSA. Genius tends to shine through, so does its opposite. Learn to make best use of what you do have, and be thankful you’re not among the top percentage because some of those folks have a hard time living in the real world and live lonely and unhappy lives.
Reading Writing and Arithmetic, pfft! Who needs it, our kids are WOKE and that’s more important. (sarcasm)
It’s dropping because there are more Blacks and illegals in US society now. Yes I know it sounds racist, but hey, if you want to know why, here it is, if you want to play make believe, go with the politically correct answers.
Your title says it all “More dumber”
last sentence in the article..
“And yes, there’s some tongue-in-cheek wordplay up there in the headline.”
Not surprising, although not for the reasons speculated about in the article.
People of the sort who conduct these studies swim with a school of thought sharing significant blame for the IQ loss.
Note the speculations concerning causes, ranging from vague: “poor nutrition”, “…change in societal values”, “…media exposures”, to obliquely-clothed specificity: “If you’re thinking about what society cares about and what it’s emphasizing and reinforcing every day, there’s a possibility of that being reflected in performance on an ability test”.
Now, that last one is hilarious. The kids aren’t dumb, what they’re being taught is dumb! I happen to agree, but don’t consider it a major cause.
Obvious reasons for collective IQ loss could be an ageing population, the Smart Set’s refusal to breed, social promotion of the otherwise unqualified into college (hence the sample set), and a large influx low-skilled labor during the past 30 years.
Professor Elizabeth Dworak says, “If all the scores were going in the same direction, you could make a nice little narrative about it, but that’s not the case. We need to do more to dig into it.”
Fat chance, professor. Determing the causes of reduced U.S. IQ scores will lay a political minefield — no funding for you!
Not surprising, although not for the reasons speculated about in the article.
People of the sort who conduct these studies swim with a school of thought sharing significant blame for the IQ loss.
Note the speculations concerning causes, ranging from vague: “poor nutrition”, “…change in societal values”, “…media exposures”, to obliquely-clothed specificity: “If you’re thinking about what society cares about and what it’s emphasizing and reinforcing every day, there’s a possibility of that being reflected in performance on an ability test”.
Now, that last one is hilarious. The kids aren’t dumb, what they’re being taught is dumb! I happen to agree, but don’t consider it a major cause.
Obvious reasons for collective IQ loss could be an ageing population, the Smart Set’s refusal to breed, social promotion of the otherwise unqualified into college (hence the sample set), and a large influx of low-skilled labor during the past 30 years.
Professor Elizabeth Dworak says, “If all the scores were going in the same direction, you could make a nice little narrative about it, but that’s not the case. We need to do more to dig into it.”
Good luck, professor. Determining the causes of reduced U.S. IQ scores will lay a political minefield — no funding for you!
Not surprising, although not for the reasons speculated about in the article.
Note the speculations concerning causes, ranging from vague: “poor nutrition”, “…change in societal values”, “…media exposures”, to oblique specificity: “If you’re thinking about what society cares about and what it’s emphasizing and reinforcing every day, there’s a possibility of that being reflected in performance on an ability test”.
Now, that last one is hilarious. The kids aren’t dumb, what they’re being taught is dumb! I happen to agree, but don’t consider it a major cause.
Obvious reasons for collective IQ loss could be an ageing population, the Smart Set’s refusal to breed, social promotion of the otherwise unqualified into college (hence the sample set), and a large influx of low-skilled labor during the past 30 years.
Professor Elizabeth Dworak says, “If all the scores were going in the same direction, you could make a nice little narrative about it, but that’s not the case. We need to do more to dig into it.”
Good luck, professor. Determining the causes of reduced U.S. IQ scores will lay a political minefield — no funding for you!
Results may be weighted by the demographics of the sample group. The results should be compared to past sample group demographics. I would bet that is where the difference comes from. For whatever reason different groups of people score differently on IQ tests. I know this is a third rail subject but unfortunately it’s also a fact.
I know this is uncomfortable but it’s a fact.
It’s “more dumblier” or “moster dumbliest,” pretty sure. Suretenist I’ve never been.
A direct correlation between what happens when schools indoctrinate rather than educate.
It is easier to manipulate dark masses with emotions than to fool someone capable of using logic. Decades of Democrat stranglehold on education and Democrat policies of importing fast breeding low IQ stock (LBJ’s changes to immigration laws) are paying off.
Yes, we are getting more dumberer!
I believe it is a combination of social Media and the fake poisonous weed being smoked these days!!!
The Reverse Flynn Effect = The Stupidity Index
Hum. Maybe I misremember but I seem to recall reading that the mid point of the bell curve, 100 IQ, has been moved to the left thrice over the last 30 years.
I think all of this might be a bunch of people who like to believe themselves intelligent circle -jerking in order to validate their belief to themselves and each other. It’s the sample stupid! The group of individuals who qualify (not to any legitimate standards) as Americans are low IQ third world grade air processors. So, they are enstupiding America.
This is another study that ignores the obvious. Our changing demographics, the growth of increased entitlement programs coupled with a dysfunctional educational system where specious truths are taught rather than facts, and social media fueled declining social and moral standards has produced a nation of factual and technical illiterates. The increase in spatial and 3D visualization abilities in the later cohorts is merely reflective of obsessive gaming culture that permeates the younger generations. Over the last 20+ years America has produced an incredibly ignorant and illiterate population. The current woke curriculum be foisted upon our students will only exacerbate our continued decline.
Re: “Are we growing more dumber?” – “more dumber”? – you can be sure of it.
I thought the gag in the headline was so obvious that I was surprised to see the author point it out at the end of the text.
Then I reached the comments section, and I was further surprised.