A Flynn Effect in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, 2004–2016

Abstract

Three recent studies have summarized evidence for Negative Flynn Effects (Dutton et al., 2016; Flynn & Shayer, 2018; Woodley of Menie, Peñaherrera-Aguirre, Fernandes, and Figueredo, 2017), that is secular deceases in IQ scores. To develop this important line of research, as many instances of this effect must be reported and understood as possible. Dutton, Bakhiet, Ziada, Essa, and Blahmar (2017) reported, in Intelligence, a Negative Flynn Effect in Khartoum, where education was voluntary for some cohorts. This study reports an increase in IQ, as assessed by the Colored Progressive Matrices, in Khartoum between 2004 and 2016. The increase in IQ amounted to 8 to 13 points, based on assessments of children between the ages of 6 and 9. Thus, the original negative Flynn Effect reflected schooling not being compulsory for some of the earlier sample.