Survey: Internet Explorer users are lacking in grey matter

by Steven Mostyn - Aug 1 2011, 04:13

We’d advise that you take the following with a liberal pinch of salt: A survey examining the use of Web browsers suggests that Internet Explorer is more likely to attract the intellectually challenged.

The survey in question, which was conducted by Vancouver-based AptiQuant, included supplying some 100,000 online participants with a four-week Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (IV) test.

Then, once the test period was complete, the Canadian “psychometric consulting” specialist worked to correlate the resulting information alongside personal browser preferences.   

“The study showed a substantial relationship between an individual’s cognitive ability and their choice of web browser,” offered the study’s conclusion. “From the test results, it is a clear indication that individuals on the lower side of the IQ scale tend to resist a change/upgrade of their browsers.”

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser is the world’s most widely used browsing platform, according to StatCoutner, and holds a market share of around 43 percent—that’s a lot of people (idiots?) resisting change.

Mozilla Firefox follows behind with a share of almost 30 percent, while Google Chrome has 19 percent.

The survey results revealed that users of Internet Explorer (versions 6 through 9) have IQs between 80 and 100. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, users of the Opera browser emerged as the most intelligent thanks to an average IQ of more than 120. 

Those who favour Firefox, Chrome and Apple Safari all returned IQ scores that landed roughly between 100 and 115.

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