Differences in cognitive ability assessment results between Millennial and Generation Z cohorts

Abstract

The Flynn effect is a well-known phenomenon that has been documented by researchers in a variety of developed countries around the world. This phenomenon refers to the fact that people’s cognitive test scores are increasing by about 3 points every decade. Many researchers have documented this spanning several decades since it was first defined by James Flynn in the 1980s. According to recent studies, this upward trend in cognitive assessment scores has reached a halt in certain nations and may possibly be reversing, a phenomenon known as the negative Flynn effect. The goal of this study is to see if the Flynn effect can be detected across generations in a developing country like RN Macedonia. The data for this study came from a competitive test for obtaining a scholarship for work-related courses. The test consisted of 40 questions that evaluated the participants in a variety of areas. The test was completed by 2700 participants. The key research groups include two generations: millennial and generation-z. Multiple cognitive areas were evaluated, including arithmetic reasoning, logical thinking, visual reasoning, attention to detail, abstract thinking, spatial and verbal reasoning, and more. The findings prove that cognitive test scores of people in RN Macedonia are improving, with a notable difference in average scores between the two generation groups in every field studied and a 1.79 points difference in collective intelligence results.