Topic: Your daily LOLWTF: Browser use and IQ
Anonymous A started this discussion 15 years ago #9,951
In a move that will no doubt stir up a massive online shitstorm, psychometric consultants Aptiquant have compared browser use and IQ in a formal study.The study is available here:
http://www.aptiquant.com/IQ-Browser-AptiQuant-2011.pdf
Although observational findings linking resistance to change/upgrade software to scores on cognitive tests
maybe distorted by a lot of factors, it has been suggested that individuals on the lower end of the IQ scale tend
to keep using outdated versions of antique web browsers. Because cognitive scores are related to tech-
savviness, we hypothesized that choice of web browser is related to cognitive ability of an individual. We used
detailed data from a trial to calculate the IQ scores of people using a variety of different browsers. A Wechsler
Adult Intelligence Scale (IV) test was given to over 100,000 people over a period of four weeks. The subjects
mostly came to our website from search engines looking to take an IQ Test. All the subjects were from English
speaking countries. A significant number of individuals with a low score on the cognitive test were found to be
using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) versions 6.0 to 9.0. There was no significant difference in the IQ scores
between individuals using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple’s Safari; however, it was on an average
higher than IE users. Individuals using Opera, Camino and IE with Chrome Frame scored a little higher on an
average than others. These data support the hypothesis that the IQ score and the choice of web browser are
related.
maybe distorted by a lot of factors, it has been suggested that individuals on the lower end of the IQ scale tend
to keep using outdated versions of antique web browsers. Because cognitive scores are related to tech-
savviness, we hypothesized that choice of web browser is related to cognitive ability of an individual. We used
detailed data from a trial to calculate the IQ scores of people using a variety of different browsers. A Wechsler
Adult Intelligence Scale (IV) test was given to over 100,000 people over a period of four weeks. The subjects
mostly came to our website from search engines looking to take an IQ Test. All the subjects were from English
speaking countries. A significant number of individuals with a low score on the cognitive test were found to be
using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) versions 6.0 to 9.0. There was no significant difference in the IQ scores
between individuals using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Apple’s Safari; however, it was on an average
higher than IE users. Individuals using Opera, Camino and IE with Chrome Frame scored a little higher on an
average than others. These data support the hypothesis that the IQ score and the choice of web browser are
related.
(Edited 44 seconds later.)
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later[^] [v] #177,583
You would have to be retarded to use Internet Explorer.Literally.
grey !C.MxxuCiTo joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 7 hours later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #177,734
Problem: The majority of people are fucking stupid. This also means they know less of what's out in terms of, well, anything, not just browsers. Where as people with higher IQ somehow end up with the idea in their head that there is such a thing as other web browsers, causing them to search out for other web browsers. The more well known a browser is the easer it is to find and use and find support for, meaning more of that majority (the stupid people) will use it. People with higher IQs may search for, and find, more and more obscure browsers until they stick with one that suits their tastes. The majority of people don't even have a concept of what a 'web browser' is or that there may be more than one. The majority just buy their new computer and think "How does I get on the internet? I use Internet Explorer!"
This study is flawed. It's more like browser obscurity by IQ, or maybe ability to find and install new programs by IQ.
This study is flawed. It's more like browser obscurity by IQ, or maybe ability to find and install new programs by IQ.
Voice of !WisdomHsuU joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #177,738
Opera: the official browser for Aspies!
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #177,740
mewoth joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 16 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #178,188
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 40 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #178,195
Anonymous B replied with this 15 years ago, 14 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #179,094
@previous (G)
lol, if you consider that some IE users are just old, not stupid, that makes the remaining IE users even more retarded.
lol, if you consider that some IE users are just old, not stupid, that makes the remaining IE users even more retarded.
Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #179,171
So, IE users are morons, Firefox users are average Joes and Opera users are pretentious, potential-wasting assholes?
vocalon !!dX0knrTu5 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 12 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #179,181
What about Lynx?
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 2 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #179,238
The study itself is pretty meh as it doesn't really claim to adjust for anything like market share or browser use imposed by school/work environments or other confounding factors or selection bias or really anything at all. It's not a study so much as it's just some data that they collected and released.The second graph featured in the study is interesting. Once you get above the 50th or 60th percentile, the breakdown of browser usage looks pretty much like you would expect.