Answer :
The Flynn effect describes the rise in average IQ scores over the generations, mainly attributed to improved nutrition, access to information, and test familiarity. The average increase is estimated at about 3 IQ points per decade, although this trend may be reversing in some places.
The Flynn effect refers to the observation that average IQ scores on intelligence tests have substantially increased over the generations. More specifically, the answer to the student's question is c. rise in average IQ over the generations. One important aspect to understand about the Flynn effect is that it has shown about a 3 IQ point increase every 10 years.
There are several reasons posited for the rise in IQ scores, including improved nutrition, access to information, and more familiarity with the format of IQ tests. Yet, whether this trend reflects a true increase in intelligence or improved test-taking abilities is a matter for debate. Notably, while there was a significant surge in IQ scores during the second half of the 20th century, recent studies have shown that this trend might be reversing in some nations, introducing complexity to the understanding of the Flynn effect.
Final answer:
The Flynn effect refers to the rise in average IQ scores observed over generations, indicating that each subsequent generation has significantly higher IQ scores than the last.
Explanation:
The Flynn effect refers to the observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation. This effect is named after James Flynn, who was among the first to describe this trend. Contrary to the notion that it reflects an increase in raw intellectual capabilities, James Flynn argued that while IQ scores have increased, this does not necessarily mean that younger generations are inherently more intelligent. This phenomenon has interesting implications for understanding fluid intelligence, which is the ability to see complex relationships and solve problems, and how it evolves over time.
Looking at the provided options:
- a. rise in an individual's IQ over the years.
- b. decrease in an individual's IQ over the years.
- c. rise in average IQ over the generations.
- d. decrease in average IQ over the generations.
The correct answer to the initial question is c. rise in average IQ over the generations.
