Results: Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a measure of human intelligence. People who want to have their IQ measured take standardized tests and receive a score that ranks their level. The higher one's IQ score, the more intelligent that person is considered to be.
Much has been said recently about common sense (or the lack of it) and we are being persuaded to "trust the science". How common is common sense and is the average American more intelligent than the average Canadian? Are some countries with few scientists nevertheless more intelligent than some countries that are renowned for their scientific prowess? Here is what some scientists think. See if common sense agrees or disagrees.
1.
1.
IQ scores typically reflect the quality of education and resources available to people in their local geographic region. Areas of the world with lower IQ scores are typically poorer and less developed, particularly in the area of education, compared to countries with higher IQ scores. Many researchers also use IQ to determine the smartest countries in the world. Do you think someone with almost no formal education can still be intelligent? Are scientists wrong to use education and IQ as 2 sides of the same coin? Scientists are right.
16%
•
365 votes
Scientists are wrong.
20%
•
454 votes
I know at least one person who is very intelligent but lacks formal education.
38%
•
865 votes
Everyone I know with a high IQ is college or university educated.
7%
•
161 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
•
43 votes
Not Applicable
27%
•
629 votes
- It took lots of people and lots of time using basic mathematic principles.
- Exactly.
- I have no idea!
2.
2.
I think IQ isn't the only way to measure intelligence. There are other ways and many of them have nothing to do with average IQ. For instance, you could compare each country's academic test scores or even the number of Nobel Prizes each country has won. If we look at the Top 10 Smartest Countries Based on Students' Test Scores in Reading, Math and Science where do you think your country would rank? In the Top 10 or further down the list? In the top 10
27%
•
620 votes
Not top 10 but top 50
44%
•
1005 votes
Top 51-100
14%
•
327 votes
100+
10%
•
219 votes
Other (please specify)
6%
•
129 votes
3.
3.
The question of the intelligence of a certain nationality or population may be controversial. In fact, intelligence is influenced by national, political, and geographic factors. Often surprisingly, but scientifically proven, a warmer climate has a markedly bad influence on the intelligence quotient. This fact has been latched onto by some radical groups as proof that their skin colour and ethnicity is superior and this is scientific fact. But is it? Nothing has proven IQ is influenced by race. Economic success likely factors into this comparison. Where do you think your country ranks compared to counties closer to the equator? Higher than countries closer to the equator
35%
•
814 votes
Lower than countries closer to the equator
12%
•
279 votes
About the same as countries closer to the equator
46%
•
1065 votes
Other (please specify)
6%
•
142 votes
4.
4.
Are you interested in knowing where your country ranks in the Top 10 based only on IQ? Yes
39%
•
887 votes
No
41%
•
936 votes
Undecided
21%
•
477 votes
- na
- Yay! I was right!
- na
5.
5.
Are you interested in knowing where your country ranks in the Top 10 based on academic results? Yes
41%
•
939 votes
No
41%
•
947 votes
Undecided
18%
•
414 votes
- na
- na
- Cool
6.
6.
Are you interested in knowing how your country ranks based on income and climate? Yes
43%
•
983 votes
No
40%
•
920 votes
Undecided
17%
•
397 votes
- na
- na
- Thank you
7.
7.
Based on what you have read about how even intelligence can't be measured precisely and our experiences with the science of COVID versus our common sense reactions, where do you have the most confidence.? Science is fact based and I rely on it.
29%
•
672 votes
Science is purely a strong recommendation
16%
•
370 votes
Common sense is common and reliable.
34%
•
783 votes
Common sense is uncommon and unreliable.
9%
•
201 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
•
49 votes
Not Applicable
25%
•
567 votes
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