IQ 'a Myth,' Study Says

An anonymous reader send this quote from The Star: "The idea that intelligence can be measured by a single number — your IQ — is wrong, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of Western Ontario (abstract). The study, published in the journal Neuron on Wednesday, involved 100,000 participants around the world taking 12 cognitive tests, with a smaller sample of the group undergoing simultaneous brain-scan testing. 'When we looked at the data, the bottom line is the whole concept of IQ — or of you having a higher IQ than me — is a myth,' said Dr. Adrian Owen, the study’s senior investigator... 'There is no such thing as a single measure of IQ or a measure of general intelligence.'"

Twas always thus.

[TechyImmigrant]

The IQ test was not designed to be an absolute measure. It was developed by Alfred Binet as a way to rank between a group of children in a special education context. It gives only a relative measure between that group and does not give any absolute measurement of intelligence nor is it valid to compare IQs between different groups. The IQs assigned are only valid within the tested group.

The transition to it being an absolute measurement was pushed by the US military to test and measure recruits. This was a colossal screw up.

Google it. It's all there.

Re:lemme guess

[Nostromo21]

I knew it was bullshit after I took several online IQ tests & kept getting a result of 130-140 back. I know I'm not THAT fucking smart lol!

Re:True

[Comrade Ogilvy]

Almost. Feanor did not consider Galadriel dedicated enough to vengeance against Morgoth, as measured by perceived willingness to draw swords and chop up fellow elves who refused to hand over their boats. Feanor left her behind. Galadriel led a great host the long way around, across the immense icy expanse to the north.

Re:True

[Capsaicin]

[C]laiming that "IQ is a myth" is just as claiming "Height is a myth"

Despite the misleading headline, they are not claiming that IQ is a myth, but exploring what constitutes IQ. They are claiming that 'g' is a myth, or perhaps an artefact of several (as it happens neuro-anatomically distinct) skills.

The performance in basketball is just rooted in A LOT more factors than just height, the same way that "real life" problem solving skills and success is rooted in a lot more factors than just the IQ.

By treating IQ as a single factor among others contributing to real life problem solving skills you are re-inscribing what has the authors assert to have disproved. According to this paper IQ is itself "rooted in a lot more factors" than a single global intelligence. IQ is not a single factor, in the way height, for example, is. That is their point.

Re:This will come as good news...

[CrkHead]

I am a MENSA member but I hardly consider myself very smart. I mean, I'm kinda smart but I see lots of people that blow me away when it comes to various mental abilities. And none of them are MENSA members.

As a Mensan, you should know that it's not an acronym and should not by typed in all caps.

Re:True

[Anonymous Coward]

Nightfall in Middle-Earth is an awesome power metal album by Blind Guardian.

Re:True

[bzipitidoo]

It's a real slog reading the Silmarillion, thanks in part to the remote style Tolkien used. I didn't find it boring exactly. I found it stupidly tragic.

Behind half the plot elements is this notion of unrepeatability and decline. Yavanna can't grow another Two Trees to replace the ones the Dark Lord destroyed. Apparently, she also can't grow something else to light up the world, like a glowing tumbleweed, or mistletoe on the Trees, or a sunflower, or I dunno, a fly trap plant that eats spiders. We aren't given much of a reason why that's so, just a begging-the-question assertion that great works can only be done once. But, Feanor has captured the light of the Trees in his Silmarils, and they can be used to bring the Trees back to life. Except that somehow, this process would destroy the Silmarils, and that would so distress Feanor that he'd die. Naturally, Feanor can't make more Silmarils. Guess he didn't keep any notes! Then, Feanor is put on the spot, asked if he would give his Silmarils to Yavanna before they find out the question is moot, as the Dark Lord has also stolen the Silmarils. So Feanor gets to deny Yavanna, and she and her peers in their turn refuse to help Feanor get the Silmarils back. Another minor detail is that there are 3 Silmarils and only 2 Trees. Seems like Yavanna shouldn't need to destroy all 3 Silmarils to save the Trees.

Tolkien's universe is all about loss, regret, and decline. Sure broadens the scope for tragedy, but I find the whole idea grating.