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Flawed Study finds that IE users have the lowest IQ (Update: Hoax)

Published by on Aug 4th, 2011, 19 Comments

A recent study done by AptiQuant has found some very interesting correlations between choice of browser, and (apparently) the user’s intelligence. It was actually a pretty simple survey – ask the user to complete the IQ test, then use a sniffer to find out what browser they are running.

The results were pretty strange – Internet Explorer scored the lowest average score, with Chrome, Safari and Firefox scoring just above average. What is interesting though is that the more obscure browsers are typically used by users who have a higher IQ. These include Camino and Opera, and the smart little tool Chrome Frame.

But reading through the study makes you realize that it is not a particularly scientific study – through little quips like this in the conclusion:

“The study showed a substantial relationship between an individual’s cognitive ability and their choice of web browser.“

First off the survey is self selecting, and it assumes all users have control over what browser they use, and are using their first choice of browser, which is not always the case in corporate environments. One could also argue that in order to change a browser does require a higher level of knowledge though.

There is one problem with that argument though – IQ and computer literacy does not necessarily go hand in hand. We all know very smart people who have no idea how to install a different browser. And we all know less smart people who know how to use a computer very well. Yes, its an IQ score, but it still requires some computer literacy to answer it, which can affect the results.

This all just rings to me like Microsoft bashing. Do you really expect me to believe Opera users have the highest IQ?

So what do you think? Are IE users “dumber” than users of other browsers?

Update: Turns out was a hoax people. Good! Was wondering how anyone can have such a poor survey, and then call it a “study”. The guy responsible had the following to say:

“This was not a cheap publicity stunt, but an honest effort to create awareness about the incompatibilities of IE versions 6.0 to 8.0.”

Source: Aptiquest (find the survey results here)

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Comments

  • littlered

    Yup, seriously, you’d have to be an idiot to use IE

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=686090872 Anonymous

    That in itself is an idiotic response.   By your brilliant deduction, you must be using IE.

    (PS: It’s “Little Read” … )

  • Bob

    Cause and effect. IE comes standard on more PCs so naturally the extra effort and skill to install and learn a new browser generally indicates a higher IQ.

  • Lyle Naidoo

    Firefox is the generally the choice of the more discerning user – whether that ties in with IQ is open to interpretation. But a lot of (but not all) IE users are quite closed to the idea of changing browsers, despite the apparent benefits of switching. While that is ignorance, it’s debatable whether that implies a lower IQ. Still, this study should be good for poking fun at friends :-)

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Goodness.

  • PAdre

    Chrome users are the stupidest , cos Google owns all their information.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gavin-Burton-Pye/1383305121 Gavin Burton-Pye

    Never used IE…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gavin-Burton-Pye/1383305121 Gavin Burton-Pye

    Never used IE…

  • ADT123

    Who paid for this study? What IQ do they have to waste time on something like this

  • Anonymous

    haha, losers :D

  • Rhcomputers

    IE sucks Opera rules

  • Michael Wood

    What is most interesting however is that Aptiquant call IQ ‘Intelligent Quotient’, when in fact it should be ‘Intelligence Quotient’. (See survey results) I wonder which browser they use?

  • http://www.vwd.co.za Francois Botha

    Again the issue of correlation vs causality. The study find that “it is a clear indication that individuals on the lower side of the IQ scale tend to resist a change/upgrade of their browsers.”

    Did they consider that the causality could be the other way? That working on IE6 turns smart people into dumb people?

  • Horst

    Eh, but this is great. Just think how much easier it becomes to do IQ testing. Just ask a single question: what browser are you using? IE, oh well this will be 85, Opera (that’s me), that will be 120 plus 10 bonus points. The other browsers we have to slot in between.

  • Charl Norman

    Seems everyone rates Opera above Chrome/Firefox? 

  • Jacques

    This reason is simple. I would think it is people who use Opera on their mobiles – and that is higher grade for most people

  • http://www.vwd.co.za Francois Botha

    Turns out it was all a hoax. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14389430

  • SheepYNesS _

    you’ll be surprised to see what google already knows about you…

    I dont mind because theyve intergrated all that info into their online services and since i use an android device, its all on my phone. 
    and should i choose to switch phones, i just sync the new one up with google and bobs ure uncle.

    google, facebook, they all have info about you and they only have as much information as youre willing to expose. Frankly, i think google is the lesser of 2 evils, since they have more exposure, theyre forced to have better security in place. also, there’s companies like microsoft and apple that constantly keep them in check. 

    as supposed to facebook that has no competition and who can do what they like with your information.

    (^_^)

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Yup… Thanks, updated.

http://www.bandwidthblog.com/wp-content/themes/cnnetwork