A colleague in HR once told me she thought people were getting smarter. This sentiment was echoed recently by a teacher in Toronto who retired after working with children for thirty years. She felt that over time students became smarter – or they knew more.

This topic has been debated over the years. For example, The Flynn Effect refers to research by James R. Flynn – spanning over 60 years – that shows IQ scores increased year-over-year “for all of the countries for which data existed.” Similarly, Mike Merzenich, a neuroscientist and software entrepreneur said during a CNET News.com interview that “Over the past 20 years or so, beginning before the Internet really took hold, the standard measure of "intelligence" (cognitive ability) has risen significantly (well more than 10 points).”

Indeed, some research suggests that places are getting smarter (or attracting a higher percentage of skilled/educated workers). Edward Glaeser points to research in Why are smart places getting smarter? that suggests the population for a location with a higher percentage of residents with a college education grows at a greater rate than the population of other locations.

This information can help guide decisions about where to locate or where to advertise for new candidates, but it does not answer the question of whether or not we are getting smarter.

The articles referenced below suggest a number of reasons for the overall increase in IQ. For example, The Flynn Effect comments on the role of educational opportunities and suggests that “the increase is actually an increase in abstract problem solving rather than intelligence” while Merzenich points to improvements in the ability to access information. Building upon these theories, it can also be argued that greater access to information demands that we become more proficient at using it.

Of course, the question becomes more complex when we consider additional research such as the theories that divide intelligence into types.

So, at the risk of over-simplifying the question, I will ask where you weigh in on this debate. Do you agree that humans are getting smarter?

References:

Glaeser, Edward L. “Why are smart places getting smarter?” Harvard University/John F. Kennedy School of Government, March 2006.

Graham, Charles and Jonathan Plucker. The Flynn Effect. Indiana University, July 25, 2007.

Olsen, Stefanie. “Are we getting smarter or dumber?” c/net News.com [www.news.cnet.com]. September 21, 2005.