More or Less: Behind the Stats What is an IQ map and can we trust them?
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Mar 15, 2025 Exploring a viral map that ranks nations by average IQ, the discussion uncovers alarming disparities and the misinterpretations behind them. The analysis reveals that environmental factors, like malnutrition, play a crucial role in cognitive development. It also challenges the validity of standardized IQ tests across diverse populations, debunking myths that link intelligence to race. The complexities of measuring intelligence are laid bare, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of human cognitive abilities and warning against overgeneralizations.
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Equatorial Guinea IQ Estimate
- The IQ of Nations book estimates IQ scores for numerous countries, many of which lack actual data.
- One estimate for Equatorial Guinea used data from developmentally disabled children in Spain, not their home country.
Flawed Data Collection
- An estimate for Somalia's IQ was derived from refugees in a Kenyan camp, while Botswana's data came from children tested in English, a non-native language.
- The Nepal data was collected during a malnutrition study, which is mentioned to highlight the absurdity.
No Universal IQ Data
- There's no consistent global IQ data due to the lack of a universal test and varying conditions.
- Factors like education and access to resources heavily influence IQ scores, making comparisons across diverse populations problematic.
