Aging versus cohort interpretations of intercohort differences in GSS vocabulary scores

We investigate the plausibility of aging versus cohort interpretations of c ohort-linked differences in vocabulary knowledge using data from IS GSS sur veys over a 22-year period 1974 to 1996, We argue that one,way to assess th e effects of aging in these surveys is to examine the diachronic data withi n cohorts and to assume minimal period effects. Holding cohort constant in this fashion reveals detectable effects of aging that are not likely to be due to period influences between 1974 and 1996. Aging, however, explains on ly a ring. portion of the variation in the data, and aging effects are of i nsufficient magnitude to account for the larger intercohort patterns in the GSS vocabulary test data. Even when taking into account the effects of agi ng, the results of a cohort analysis support the argument that unique cohor t experiences make important contributions to variation in GSS vocabulary t est scores, especially among cohorts educated in the post-World War II era.