Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Browser Usage

"Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Browser Usage" was a hoax study allegedly released by a Canadian company called AptiQuant Psychometric Consulting Co. on July 26, 2011, that claimed to have correlated the IQs of 100,000 internet users with which web browsers they used.[1][2] Its claims that users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer had lower IQs than users of other browsers was widely covered in the media, and its revelation as a hoax was widely cited as an example of the weaknesses of the media.[3] The speed with which the story was reported was also alleged by some to be indicative of anti-Microsoft bias.[4]

The hoax was arranged by Tarandeep Gill, a web developer from Vancouver, British Columbia.[5] He claimed it was to raise awareness of the outdated nature of earlier versions of Internet Explorer that still have significant market share.[6][7]

It came amid a wave of other negative coverage of earlier versions of Internet Explorer.[8]

The reported results
BrowserAverage IQ, 2006Average IQ, 2011
Internet Explorer 610383
Internet Explorer 710888
Internet Explorer 8-92
Internet Explorer 9-90
Firefox104108
Chrome-112
Safari113114
Internet Explorer with Google Chrome Frame-123
Camino-125
Opera101128

The study was presented as measuring how IQ affects choices to adopt new technologies.[9]

Conception

Gill says he got the idea for the hoax about a month prior to its release[5] when working on his website. "IE6 compatibility was being a pain in the ass," he told ReadWriteWeb.[10]

Release
Google Search traffic for the terms aptiquant, browser iq and internet explorer iq between July 28 and August 4.

The report was covered by many news outlets. Initially the discrepancy was explained by that the advanced computer users with high IQs were savvy enough to choose other browsers.[11]

When the report was first covered by the BBC some readers were skeptical of its authenticity and quickly noted that the domain for the company had only been set up a month prior and that pictures of the company's staff were from the French company Central Test. Central Test began investigating the issue and said it was considering legal action against whoever had used the photos.[12] It was initially suspected that the whole thing was a plot to spread malware; however, the PDF was examined and none was found.[13] As the hoax was uncovered additional problems with the report were raised, the results were noted as improbable and the task of collecting 100,000 users very difficult.[14] The address given on the website was looked up using Google Street View and it turned out to be just a parking lot.[15]

While the story was being covered Gill posed as Leonard Howard, the fabricated owner of AptiQuant, to the media.[16] He also wrote a blog on the AptiQuant website about how they were being sued by Internet Explorer users[17][18] and that it had been receiving hate mail.[19]

Internet Explorer users acted defensively.[20]

Some news outlets criticized the methodology of the study, although without realizing it was a hoax.[21] It was even described as "Junk science at its worst".[22] Some defended the study; for example, The Register wrote, "The methodology of the study appears sound."[23]

Aftermath

The hoax coverage was said by some to be a victory for citizen journalism, as it was readers who first uncovered that it was a hoax.[24] Wired wrote that "Too often, business analysts and statistics and insider rumors carry a similar currency in journalism. They often add just a thin sheen of detail and a slightly stronger claim to verification. Really, guys, it’s just a color PDF."[25]

List of news sources fooled by hoax

References
  1. Rachel Metea. "Hey Babe, What's Your Browser?". Archived March 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine The DePaulia.
  2. Janet I. Tu. "Study claiming Internet Explorer users have lower IQs? Bogus." Archived September 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The Seattle Times, March 8, 2011.
  3. Craig Silverman. "Newsmangled: Fake study of web surfers intelligence proves media not so smart". Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Toronto Star, May 8, 2011.
  4. Bishop, Todd (April 8, 2011). "This is the guy who convinced everyone that IE users are dumb". Geekwire.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  5. Paul Sawers. "The ‘Internet Explorer IQ’ hoaxer talks to The Next Web". Archived November 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Next Web, March 8, 2011.
  6. "Why a web developer orchestrated the "IE users are dumb" study hoax". Archived October 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Independent, April 8, 2011.
  7. Jonathan Walczak. "Anatomy of a Hoax: Study Showing Internet Explorer Users Have Low IQs Was Fake". Archived September 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Seattle Weekly, May 8, 2011.
  8. Jabulani Leffall. "Microsoft: Security is a Two-Way Street". Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online, January 8, 2011.
  9. Eyder Peralta. "Study Suggests Internet Explorer Users Are, Um, Kind Of Slow". Archived April 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machine NPR, February 8, 2011.
  10. John Paul Titlow. "Disgruntled Canadian Developer Behind Internet Explorer IQ "Study" Hoax". Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ReadWriteWeb, March 8, 2011.
  11. "Internet Explorer users 'have below-average IQ'". Archived December 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The Telegraph, January 8, 2011.
  12. Doug Gross. "Internet Explorer IQ report was a hoax". Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine CNN, March 8, 2011.
  13. "Internet Explorer story was bogus". Archived May 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine BBC, March 8, 2011.
  14. Zack Whittaker. "Internet Explorer IQ Story Called a Hoax". Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine PCWorld, March 8, 2011.
  15. Tom Brewster. "IT Pro believes that a report claiming Internet Explorer users had lower IQs was in fact a big hoax". Archived December 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine IT Pro, March 8, 2011.
  16. Lahmeik Stacey. "Web browser, IQ study discovered to be hoax". Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Digital Journal, July 31, 2011.
  17. "IE users are dumb - study". Archived October 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine iAfrica, February 8, 2011.
  18. "IE users sue company over browser IQ test". Archived September 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KGO-TV, February 8, 2011.
  19. "Internet Explorer 6 users criticized in study". Archived August 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine London Free Press, January 8, 2011.
  20. Robert X. Cringely. "Microsoft and IE: This time it's personal". Archived October 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine InfoWorld', March 8, 2011.
  21. Machlis Musings. "What the 'IE users are dumb' hoax really shows us". Archived September 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Computer World, March 8, 2011.
  22. Steve Evans. "Internet Explorer 'low IQ' findings a hoax?". Computer Business Review, August 3, 2011.
  23. Rik Myslewski. "It's official: IE users are dumb as a bag of hammers". Archived August 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The Register, July 29, 2010.
  24. Johnathan Hartwood. "Canadian ‘psychometric testing’ company AptiQuant turns out to be bogus, after readers smell a rat". Archived January 13, 2022, at the Wayback Machine The First Post, March 8, 2011.
  25. Tim Carmody. "'Internet Explorer Users Have Lower IQs' Study Is a Hoax: Here Are Some of the Red Flags". Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine WIRED, March 8, 2011.
  26. Dino Grandoni. "Chart: What Your Web Browser Says About Your IQ". Archived September 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The Atlantic Wire, July 29, 2011.
  27. Using an old browser may indicate low IQ: Study "Using an old browser may indicate low IQ: Study". Archived October 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Business Standard, February 8, 2011.
  28. Ysolt Usigan. "Internet Explorer users "are kind of stupid," says study". Archived August 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine CBS News, January 8, 2011.
  29. Chris Matyszczyk. "Just how stupid are IE users?". Archived March 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine CNET, July 29, 2011.
  30. Doug Gross. "Are Internet Explorer users dumb?". Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine CNN, July 29, 2011.
  31. Mark Huffman. "Survey: Internet Explorer Users Less Intelligent". Archived November 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ConsumerAffairs.com, 8/1/2011/
  32. "D'oh! Are Internet Explorer users dumb?". CTV Television Network, July 30, 2011.
  33. Tim Worstall. "Internet Explorer Users Are Stupid". Archived August 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Forbes, July 29, 2011.
  34. Adrian Chen. "Internet Explorer Users Are Objectively Stupid". Archived October 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Gawker, January 8, 2011.
  35. "Internet Explorer Users Have Lower IQs Than Users Of Other Browsers, Survey Finds". Archived December 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The Huffington Post, January 8, 2011.
  36. "Internet Explorer users have lower IQs: study". The Independent, July 30, 2011.
  37. "Internet Explorer users are dumb: study". Archived January 13, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, July 31, 2011.
  38. Robert X. Cringely. "Just how stupid are Internet Explorer users?". Archived November 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine InfoWorld, January 8, 2011.
  39. Lawrence Latif. "Microsoft Internet Explorer users are thick headed". The Inquirer, July 29, 2011.
  40. "Internet Explorer Users Not as Smart, Survey Says". International Business Times, July 29, 2011
  41. Kevin Fogarty. "Did that study show IE users are stupid? Or that the pollsters who did it are fools?". Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine IT World, January 8, 2011
  42. "IE users not the brightest, says survey". Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KGO-TV, July 29, 2011.
  43. "New study says the web browser you choose to use could say a lot about your IQ". Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine KNXV-TV, February 8, 2011.
  44. Stan Schroeder. "IE Users Have Lower IQ Than Users of Other Web Browsers [STUDY]". Archived August 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Mashable, July 29, 2011.
  45. Elena Sanz (August 2, 2011). "Dime qué navegador usas y te diré cómo de inteligente eres". MuyInteresante.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  46. Dan Amira. "If You’re Reading This On Internet Explorer, You’re Probably Dumb". Archived October 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine New York Magazine, July 29, 2011.
  47. Kevin Spak. "Study: IE Users Have Lower IQs". Archived August 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Newser, July 29, 2011.
  48. Murphy, David (July 30, 2011). "Study: Dumb People Use Internet Explorer | News & Opinion". PCMag.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  49. "STUDY: Internet Explorer Users Are Dumber (MSFT, GOOG)". San Francisco Chronicle July 28, 2011.
  50. "". Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 29, 2011.
  51. Jonathan Walczak. "Use Internet Explorer? You're Probably Dumb, Study Says". Archived October 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Seattle Weekly, July 29, 2011.
  52. "Internet Explorer users 'have below-average IQ'". Archived December 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph, January 8, 2011.
  53. "IE users are dumb: Study". Times of India, July 30, 2011.
  54. Douglas Perry. "A New Study Suggests Internet Explorer is for Dummies". Archived January 13, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Tom's Hardware, February 8, 2011.
  55. Sarah Deen. "Google Chrome, Opera, Firefox users ‘smarter’ than Internet Explorer users". Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Metro (British newspaper), January 8, 2011.
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