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]

  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.