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IQ is rising in many parts of the world. What's behind the change and does it really mean people are cleverer than their grandparents?
It is not unusual for parents to comment that their children are brainier than they are. In doing so, they hide a boastful remark about their offspring behind a self-deprecating one about themselves. But a new study, published in the journal Intelligence, provides fresh evidence that in many cases this may actually be true.
The researchers - Peera Wongupparaj, Veena Kumari and Robin Morris at Kings College London - did not themselves ask anyone to sit an IQ test, but they analysed data from 405 previous studies. Altogether, they harvested IQ test data from more than 200,000 participants, captured over 64 years and from 48 countries.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by acid andy on Thursday March 05 2015, @01:21PM
I was under the impression that IQ test scores are normalised so that the population median is 100. If that's the case, how can they compare test scores from generation to generation? I can understand an argument regarding the distribution becoming more skewed so that a greater proportion of the population have above median scores, but if the median moves that still doesn't prove the population as a whole is getting more intelligent.
Maybe they got hold of data before normalisation but I'd argue that's even more meaningless unless all generations are being given exactly the same test questions. I'm sure this is all clear in their paper but I've not found that.
Master of the science of the art of the science of art.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 05 2015, @04:36PM
You're entirely correct.
However, they keep having to make successive tests more difficult because people are getting better at them. There have certainly been contributions from
1) making fuel lead-free
2) iodated salt (IIRC iodine deficiency used to be the #1 cause of preventable mental retardation)
3) increased availability of food and
4) more people receiving education to a higher level
Probably also important were
5) increased social pressure to do well in school and go to college
6) a more carnivorous diet*
7) vaccines and generally improved medical care in childhood (so the body spends resources on the brain instead of on infections, not to mention the direct damage they can do)
8) a more stimulating environment (educational tv may suck, but it sure beats nothing)
9) a society which is generally less hostile to disadvantaged minorities (e.g. if blacks always see themselves portrayed as stupid, it will affect their thinking)
10) a feedback effect from all of the above, since more intelligent parents can take better care of and better stimulate their children
* I know there are many loud voices claiming that you must eat only or almost only vegetables. Well, plants contain too little (or none) of several important nutrients (especially cobalamin) vital to brain function. A controversial claim which you are free to disagree with.