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Analysis of institutional authors

Colom, RobertoCorresponding AuthorGarcia, Luis FAuthorShih, Pei ChunAuthorAbad, Francisco JAuthor

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July 31, 2023
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Generational intelligence tests score changes in Spain: Are we asking the right question?

Publicated to: INTELLIGENCE. 99 101772 - - 2023-08-01 99(), DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2023.101772

Authors:

Colom, R; García, LF; Shih, PC; Abad, FJ
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Affiliations

Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Psicol, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

Generational intelligence test score gains have been documented worldwide in the twentieth century. However, recent evidence suggests these increased scores are coming to an end in some world regions. Here we compare two cohorts of university freshmen. The first cohort (n = 311) was assessed in 1991, whereas the second cohort (n = 349) was assessed thirty years later (2022). These cohorts completed the same intelligence battery including eight standardized speeded and power tests tapping reasoning (abstract and quantitative), language (vocabulary, verbal comprehension, and verbal meanings), rote calculation, and visuospatial relations. The results revealed a global gain of 3.5 IQ points but also upward and downward changes at the test level. The 2022 cohort outperformed the 1991 cohort on reasoning (abstract and quantitative), verbal comprehension, and vocabulary, whereas the 1991 cohort outscored the 2022 cohort on rote calculation, visuospatial relations (mental rotation and identical figures), and verbal meanings. These findings are thought to support one key claim made by James Flynn: generational changes on the specific cognitive abilities and skills tapped by standardized tests should be expected without appreciable or substantive changes in the structure of the intelligence construct identified within generations. This main conclusion is discussed with respect to theoretical causal implications putatively derived from current intelligence psychometric models.
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Keywords

Cognitive test scoresCohortsCross-sectional longitudinal designEnvironmentFit indexesFlynnGenerational intelligence changesHeritabilityIq gainsMeasurement invarianceMetaanalysisParadoxR packageWorking-memory

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Intelligence due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 36/219, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Psychology, Multidisciplinary.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.95. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.88 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2026-04-19, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 6
  • Scopus: 6
  • Google Scholar: 5
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-19:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 11.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 11 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 51.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 7 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 4 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/709547
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (COLOM MARAÑON, ROBERTO) and Last Author (ABAD GARCIA, FRANCISCO JOSE).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been COLOM MARAÑON, ROBERTO.

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