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Cited by 111Cognitive Abilities and TestingAging and Gerontology ResearchIntergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies

An historical framework for cohort differences in intelligence

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Schaie, K. Warner, Willis, Sherry, Pennak, Sara·2005·Research in Human Development
DOI 10.1207/s15427617rhd0201&2_3PMC PMC1513180
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Abstract

This article reviews key issues regarding the controversy on the direction and magnitude of cohort differences in intelligence. Data from the Seattle Longitudinal Study (SLS) illustrate why differences must be studied across multiple cohorts and multiple chronological ages. Differential cohort patterns for multiple dimensions of intelligence are described. A conceptual framework is suggested for the identification of historical influences important for developmental study of cohort differences.

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  • Cohort differences in rates of cognitive aging among SLS participants typically favored later born cohorts, particularly on reasoning and verbal meaning abilities.

    “Schaie, Willis, and Pennak (2005) reported cohort differences in rates of cognitive aging among SLS participants that typically favored later born cohorts, particularly on reasoning and verbal meaning abilities.”

    From Cohort differences in cognitive aging and terminal decline in the Seattle Longitudinal Study. (2011) · cites this paper as Schaie, Willis, and Pennak (2005)

    In “Cohort Differences in Rate of Age-Related Change” (page unavailable), the paper reports a difference in aging trajectories between older cohorts, with the slope particularly favoring the later-born cohort for verbal meaning. It also reports gains in inductive reasoning for later-born cohorts, but describes those as differences in performance level, not clearly as differences in rates of cognitive aging. Thus the claim’s emphasis on reasoning as an aging-rate finding is not fully supported. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Schaie, K. W., Willis, S., & Pennak, S.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
Willis, Sherry
Venue
Research in Human Development
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2005-03-01
Volume
2
Issue
1
Pages
43-67
ISSN
1542-7609 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1207/s15427617rhd0201&2_3
PMC
PMC1513180
OpenAlex
W2062957383
Cited by
111
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
FWCI
4.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Research in Human Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (R01AG008055)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies
Keywords
cohort differences, intelligence, historical influence, Seattle Longitudinal Study, intelligence development, conceptual framework

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