Measuring Domain-Specific Knowledge: From Bach to Fibonacci.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Educational Measurement

Background:

• Domain-specific knowledge (Gkn) is crucial for life outcomes, alongside crystallized intelligence (Gc).
• Limited standardized Gkn tests exist for adults, especially those culturally adapted.
• Existing tests often align with school curricula, potentially limiting their scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a culturally sensitive Gkn test for the German population.
• To assess the psychometric quality of the new Gkn test scores.
• To investigate the curriculum dependence of Gkn structure.

Main Methods:

• Developed new items across diverse knowledge categories.
• Administered the test online to 1450 German participants (415 high fluid intelligence, 1035 unselected).
• Analyzed data to evaluate structural validity, reliability, and criterion validity.

Main Results:

• Supported a hierarchical Gkn model with one general factor and three sub-factors (Humanities, Science, Civics).
• Demonstrated good reliability estimates for scale scores.
• Provided evidence of criterion validity using a known-groups design.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed Gkn test demonstrates strong psychometric quality for the German population.
• The findings support a hierarchical structure of domain-specific knowledge, potentially independent of a strict curriculum.
• This culturally sensitive test offers a valuable tool for assessing acquired knowledge in adults.