A study carried out by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel found that IQ tests administered online are quite reliable, but that a comparison of all results is almost impossible. Prof. Michael R. Inzlicht, director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory at Ben-Gurion University, said that the results of this study were published in the May 2018 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. For the purpose of the study, Inzlicht and his colleagues downloaded 50 IQ tests, and then examined the data — all the past test results that were submitted by the public, and which the researchers had access to.
The science of online IQ tests
Science and online testing goes hand-in-hand. Although your scores may not be published in a format that other people can see, the tools used in online tests can be used to study the process and quality of online tests. IQ tests are an example. The idea that intelligence is shaped by both nature and nurture has proved a pretty contentious one. It is widely accepted that these factors impact intelligence, but exactly how much is unclear. It is known that nature plays an important role. In humans, DNA plays a role in determining intelligence, as can experiences and environmental influences. We all have our genetic blueprint, but the environment alters this blueprint.
Do online IQ tests work?
Even when you have high self-esteem, and are a highly intelligent and analytical person, there is no use in deluding yourself that you are an expert on a particular topic. Most questions and issues are both highly subjective and often complex and, as the originator of such an expert, you can never gain complete experience, the problem being that nobody is an expert in everything. So how can one even get close? You might be a good cook, a good journalist, and a good conversationalist, but unless you have studied them thoroughly and well, you will never gain complete experience or the knowledge that you need. With IQ tests being a highly subjective procedure, its results are always open to a wide range of interpretation, depending on the exact question and how well you tackle the problem.
At this point, your take home questions might differ from the ones here. We might like to see you more intelligent than you are in the end. Using research-backed IQ tests online is a smart idea, since you get the perfect opportunity to confirm whether you have managed to achieve the highest score. After all, all you can achieve is a score close to the average or above it. If you do notice a flaw or two in the work of your test provider, it is always nice to go back and discuss the issue with them to improve the quality of their service.
