The Flynn effect refers to the observation that mean intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, as measured by common intelligence tests, have been consistently increasing over time. This phenomenon was first described by James Flynn in 1984 and later labeled the Flynn effect by Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray in 1996. This entry examines the methods of intelligence testing used to determine the Flynn effect. This entry also suggests potential causes for the Flynn effect.

History of Intelligence Testing

Standardized measures of intelligence have been in use since the early 20th century, when Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon introduced the Binet-Simon scales. The Binet-Simon scales were the first scales to be used widely to measure mental ability, and they popularized intelligence testing in the United States. These scales were ...

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