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The predictors of general knowledge: Data from a Spanish megastudy
Francisco Buades-Sitjar1, Roger Boada2, Marc Guasch2
1Centro de Investigación Nebrija en Cognición, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Santa Cruz de Marcenado 27, 28015, Madrid, Spain.
Behavior Research Methods
|August 6, 2021
Summary
This megastudy found that men score higher in general knowledge than women. Sociodemographic factors like education and age significantly impact general knowledge, with age being beneficial until 50.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Crystallized intelligence research often faces participant recruitment challenges.
- Internet-based megastudies offer a solution for large-scale data collection.
- General knowledge, a component of crystallized intelligence, remains understudied in megastudies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sociodemographic variables on general knowledge.
- To utilize internet-based megastudy methodology for examining general knowledge.
- To analyze the relationship between gender, age, education, socioeconomic status, and general knowledge scores.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale online survey (megastudy) was conducted.
- 48,234 participants completed 60 general knowledge questions.
- Regression models analyzed the impact of sociodemographic factors on general knowledge.
Main Results:
- Men outperformed women in general knowledge scores.
- Years of study positively predicted general knowledge.
- Socioeconomic status was a weak positive predictor; age was a strong positive predictor until 50, then became detrimental.
Conclusions:
- Sociodemographic factors significantly correlate with general knowledge acquisition and performance.
- Internet megastudies are viable for large-scale cognitive research.
- Further research should explore crystallized intelligence components individually.
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