Does the Flynn Effect Affect IQ Scores of Students Classified as LD?

This research examined two samples of students classified as learning disabled (LD) for evidence of the phenomenon known as the Flynn effect (FE; Flynn, 1999). Triennial test data were collected for two samples. Sample 1 included students tested twice with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition (WISC-III; n 59). Sample 2, the primary data set, included students tested first with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC-R), and then with the WISC-III ( n 171). A secondary analysis examined potential differences in the FE by ethnicity and/or gender. Results indicate that the FE does affect Wechsler IQ and component scores of students classified as LD. Further, the effect varies by task. There were no significant differences in the FE by race and/or gender. The study suggests that LD classification may be substantially impacted by the FE over the life of an IQ test version. © 2001 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd