Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016)
Increasingly inconsistent generational IQ test score change patterns across recent decades have been suggested to be due to increased ability differentiation as a consequence of cross-temporally decreasing strengths of the positive manifold of intelligence. Here, we investigate the Flynn effect and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547520/full |
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| author | Sandra Oberleiter Sandra Oberleiter Jana Wurzer Michael Mikas Martin Held Bettina Wieland Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Martin Voracek Martin Voracek Jakob Pietschnig Jakob Pietschnig |
| author_facet | Sandra Oberleiter Sandra Oberleiter Jana Wurzer Michael Mikas Martin Held Bettina Wieland Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Martin Voracek Martin Voracek Jakob Pietschnig Jakob Pietschnig |
| author_sort | Sandra Oberleiter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increasingly inconsistent generational IQ test score change patterns across recent decades have been suggested to be due to increased ability differentiation as a consequence of cross-temporally decreasing strengths of the positive manifold of intelligence. Here, we investigate the Flynn effect and directly test the idea of a changing positive manifold, based on the performance of N = 204 Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers across twelve IQ subtests. Subscale change scores indicated consistent gains in measures related to the CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) stratum II domains of fluid reasoning, quantitative knowledge, and retrieval. However, change patterns in the stratum II domains working memory and comprehension knowledge were ambiguous and suggest stratum I-based differentiation of the Flynn effect. In all, our results indicate positive and substantial Flynn effects in the majority of examined subscales, but no evidence for any meaningful changes in the positive manifold strength. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab8ea9f1c64f4809ab78f0f6476de917 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab8ea9f1c64f4809ab78f0f6476de9172025-08-20T01:50:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-05-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15475201547520Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016)Sandra Oberleiter0Sandra Oberleiter1Jana Wurzer2Michael Mikas3Martin Held4Bettina Wieland5Elisabeth L. Zeilinger6Elisabeth L. Zeilinger7Martin Voracek8Martin Voracek9Jakob Pietschnig10Jakob Pietschnig11Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaVienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior, and Neuroscience (VDS CoBeNe), University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Aviation Psychology, Austrian Armed Forces, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Aviation Psychology, Austrian Armed Forces, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Aviation Psychology, Austrian Armed Forces, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der Barmherzigkeit, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaSocial Sciences Advisory Board, Science Commission at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaSocial Sciences Advisory Board, Science Commission at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Vienna, AustriaIncreasingly inconsistent generational IQ test score change patterns across recent decades have been suggested to be due to increased ability differentiation as a consequence of cross-temporally decreasing strengths of the positive manifold of intelligence. Here, we investigate the Flynn effect and directly test the idea of a changing positive manifold, based on the performance of N = 204 Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers across twelve IQ subtests. Subscale change scores indicated consistent gains in measures related to the CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) stratum II domains of fluid reasoning, quantitative knowledge, and retrieval. However, change patterns in the stratum II domains working memory and comprehension knowledge were ambiguous and suggest stratum I-based differentiation of the Flynn effect. In all, our results indicate positive and substantial Flynn effects in the majority of examined subscales, but no evidence for any meaningful changes in the positive manifold strength.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547520/fullFlynn effectpositive manifold of intelligencepsychometric gCattell-horn-Carroll (CHC) intelligence modelAustriaarmed forces |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Oberleiter Sandra Oberleiter Jana Wurzer Michael Mikas Martin Held Bettina Wieland Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Elisabeth L. Zeilinger Martin Voracek Martin Voracek Jakob Pietschnig Jakob Pietschnig Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) Frontiers in Psychology Flynn effect positive manifold of intelligence psychometric g Cattell-horn-Carroll (CHC) intelligence model Austria armed forces |
| title | Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) |
| title_full | Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) |
| title_fullStr | Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) |
| title_short | Generational IQ test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence: evidence from Austrian Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers (1992–2016) |
| title_sort | generational iq test score changes and the positive manifold of intelligence evidence from austrian air force pilots and air traffic controllers 1992 2016 |
| topic | Flynn effect positive manifold of intelligence psychometric g Cattell-horn-Carroll (CHC) intelligence model Austria armed forces |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547520/full |
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