The Peculiar Case of Philippine IQ

Written by Lorenzo Requizo

    

Photo from Flickr

            Intelligence quotient (IQ), is the most common score used to measure human intelligence through a set of standardized tests. In a study by Pesovski et al. (2022), differences in cognitive ability assessment results between Millennial and Generation Z cohorts were observed wherein the newer generation outscored their predecessors by almost 2 IQ points. This corroborates the observation that the average IQ has been generally increasing, a phenomenon known as the Flynn Effect. 

Intelligence researcher James Flynn in 1984 first discovered the Flynn Effect. Flynn discovered that as IQ tests are updated [every 15 to 20 years], test-takers of the newer versions of an IQ test scored higher than test-takers of the previous versions. The said phenomenon was found to observe a general average IQ increase of about 3 points per decade.

Adjacent to this study is the investigation of whether IQ is a product of either genetics or environment or both. Previous studies have shown that there is a strong association between the intelligence of biological parents and their children. Meanwhile, parents and children from foster families prove otherwise.

On the other hand, Flynn disagreed that genetics is a major factor for the Flynn Effect. He noted that the phenomenon occurs too fast for the time it takes for a new generation to be conceived. In line with this, twin studies regarding the heritability of IQ suggest that the environment plays a major role in determining IQ just as much as genetics does. IQ scores of identical twins who grew up in the same household or family are found to have a strong correlation, while IQ scores of identical twins who grew up in different households or families have a lower correlation. In similar studies, IQ scores of fraternal twins who grew up in the same household or family have an even lower correlation than the IQ score correlations of identical twins.

Despite the evidence that the Flynn Effect occurs, a case can be argued that in some populations, a “reverse” Flynn Effect can be observed. In the assessment of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the proficiency of Filipino young learners, the Philippines ranked 77th of 81 countries in terms of proficiency in Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has acknowledged that the Philippine education system is “5 to 6 years behind” in learning competencies, with learners facing various obstacles to quality education, such as coming from lower socioeconomic strata, having poor accessibility to schools, or possessing Philippine education system mismanagement in general. 

While genetics does contribute to the heritability of intelligence and perhaps the increase of average IQ over the years, it can only do so much against the non-conducive learning environment faced by Filipino learners. These findings could enlighten the Philippine education system to create an environment that is ideal for the collective improvement of the average IQ of Filipino young learners.