Does the Flynn effect affect IQ scores of students classified as LD?

This research examined two samples of students classified as learning disab led (LD) for evidence of the phenomenon known as the Flynn effect (FE; Flyn n, 1999). Triennial test data were collected for two samples. Sample 1 incl uded students tested twice with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Childre n-Third Edition (WISC-III; n = 59). Sample 2, the primary data set, include d students tested first with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-R evised (WISC-R), and then with the WISC-III (n = 171). A secondary analysis examined potential differences in the FE by ethnicity and/or gender. Resul ts indicate that tile FE does affect Wechsler IQ and component scores of st udents 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 li fe of an IQ test version. (C) 2001 Society for the Study of School Psycholo gy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.