Study finds Fox News viewers' average IQ is slightly above retardation - Polidicks

[TABLE="width: 100%"] [TR] [TD="class: quotearea, bgcolor: #E8E8E8"][I]The results of a [B]4 year study show that Americans who obtain their news from Fox News channel have an average IQ of 80, which represents a 20 point deficit when compared to the U.S. national average of 100[/B]. IQ, or intelligence quotient, is the international standard of assessing intelligence. Researchers at The Intelligence Institute, a conservative non-profit group, tested 5,000 people using a series of tests that measure everything from cognitive aptitude to common sense and found that people who identified themselves as Fox News viewers and 'conservative' had, on average, significantly lower intelligent quotients. Fox Viewers represented 2,650 members of the test group. One test involved showing subjects a series of images and measuring their vitals, namely pulse rate and blood pressure. The self-identified conservatives' vitals increased over 35% when shown complex or shocking images. The image that caused the most stress was a poorly edited picture of President Obama standing next to a "ghostly" image of a child holding a tarantula. [B]Test subjects who received their news from other outlets or reported they do not watch the news scored an average IQ of 104, compared to 80 for Fox News viewers.[/B] Lead researcher, P. Nichols, explains, "Less intelligent animals rely on instinct when confronted by something which they do not understand. This is an ancient survival reaction all animals, including humans, exhibit. It's a very simple phenomenon, really; think about a dog being afraid of a vacuum cleaner. He doesn't know what a vacuum is or if it may harm him, so he becomes agitated and barks at it. Less intelligent humans do the same thing. Concepts that are too complex for them to understand, may frighten or anger them." He continues, "Fox News' content is presented at an elementary school level and plays directly into the fears of the less educated and less intelligent." [B]The researchers said that an IQ of 80 is well above the score of 70, which is where psychiatrists diagnose mental retardation.[/B] P. Nichols says an IQ of 80 will not limit anyone's ability to lead happy, fulfilling lives. The study did not conclude if Fox News contributed to lowering IQ or if it attracts less intelligent humans. P. Nichols concludes that he wasn't shocked by the studies' results, rather how dramatic their range. "Several previous studies show that self-identified conservatives are less intelligent than self-identified moderates. [B]We have never seen such a homogeneous group teetering so close to special needs levels.[/B]"[/I] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [URL="http://news.yahoo.com/intelligence-institute-study-shows-fox-news-viewers-iq-034622242.html"]http://news.yahoo.com/intelligence-i...034622242.html[/URL]

I'm surprised.

I'm not :v:

Now do this exact same test on people that comment on Yahoo News articles.

Watch the fact that IQ isn't a very good determiner of intelligence be completely ignored by this thread.

[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;38771079]Now do this exact same test on people that comment on Yahoo News articles.[/QUOTE] Probably higher, Fox news requires less effort.

Be prepared to read some stupid Yahoo News comments too

Doesn't IQ measure your ability to react accurately? I.E. answer a question or solve a problem correctly in a short period of time so it KIND OF measures intelligence, but not really, because people can be smart as shit but work very slow.

[QUOTE=laserguided;38771041]I'm surprised.[/QUOTE] You're surprised? Do you happen to watch fox news?

Heh, not really surprising, Fox news is pretty much propaganda in the worst sense of the word.

[QUOTE=valkery;38771095]Watch the fact that IQ isn't a very good determiner of intelligence be completely ignored by this thread.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but it doesn't mean that there isn't any correlation I doubt you'll find any retards in a group of people with 180 IQ, and any Einsteins in a group of people with 80 IQ

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;38771156]You're surprised? Do you happen to watch fox news?[/QUOTE] I'm surprised. I'm surprised that its higher then I expected.

[QUOTE=valkery;38771095]Watch the fact that IQ isn't a very good determiner of intelligence be completely ignored by this thread.[/QUOTE] It may not be a very good determiner of intelligence, but something has to be up if there is a 24 point IQ deficit on the entire Fox News viewer average compared to the average that gets their news from elsewhere.

[quote]Lead researcher, P. Nichols, explains, "Less intelligent animals rely on instinct when confronted by something which they do not understand. This is an ancient survival reaction all animals, including humans, exhibit. It's a very simple phenomenon, really; think about a dog being afraid of a vacuum cleaner. He doesn't know what a vacuum is or if it may harm him, so he becomes agitated and barks at it. Less intelligent humans do the same thing. Concepts that are too complex for them to understand, may frighten or anger them." He continues, "Fox News' content is presented at an elementary school level and plays directly into the fears of the less educated and less intelligent." The study did not conclude if Fox News contributed to lowering IQ or if it attracts less intelligent humans.[/quote] ahahahahahaha

There is still a large debate over what exactly IQ even means or measures. IQ isn't a great indicator of intelligence, and the tests show a lot of cultural bias. But it can still be a useful tool for at least a general overview in some circumstances. It takes a lot more in-depth analysis to actually reach any meaningful conclusions.

Keep in mind this is coming from yahoo news.

[QUOTE=Aircraft;38771295]Keep in mind this is coming from yahoo news.[/QUOTE] I'm entirely skeptical about this Mainly because the article reads like a piece from the Onion

How can they even hold down a fucking job is my question, assuming this study is correct.

It goes about treating Fox News viewers like a bunch of lab test chimpanzees This is comedy gold [editline]9th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=FrankOfArabia;38771347]How can they even hold down a fucking job is my question, assuming this study is correct.[/QUOTE] Intelligence has very little to do with menial labor

Makes sense if IQ has to do with critical thinking

I think this article might be a hoax, guys.

[QUOTE=Penultimate;38771404]I think this article might be a hoax, guys.[/QUOTE] I have a sneaking suspicion something's fishy, but I sure hope it isn't.

where you at glaber take a bow

This is the site the article sources: [url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/fox-news-less-informed-new-study_n_1538914.html[/url] Which refers to a study by Fairleigh Dickinson University, which came to the conclusion that Fox News viewers are the least informed; making no mention of intelligence. Googling "The Intelligence Institute" only turns up the OP article and random unrelated bollocks.

-snip-

Well it is pretty accurate.

-snip-

[quote]The image that caused the most stress was a poorly edited picture of President Obama standing next to a "ghostly" image of a child holding a tarantula.[/quote] Ha HA ha hah! I want to see this image!

[QUOTE=TheFilmSlacker;38771535]This is too perfect.[/QUOTE] ...and unfortunately, it is.

As amusing as the article is, it's fabricated bollocks. Judging by the e-mail address at the bottom of the article, a user of this site is responsible: [url]http://www.prweb.com/[/url] In their "how it works" section: [quote]It’s simple. You write an announcement about your organization – a new product launch, current promotion, a local team sponsorship - whatever. We get your news distributed to every major news site and search engine on the web, and in front of consumers and journalists.[/quote] So either someone did it for a laugh, or as a (rather superfluous) defamation attempt.