Wasn’t the average IQ here from the survey something like 130+?
The average self-reported IQ.
If we really wanted to measure LWs collective IQ, I’d suggest using the education data as a proxy; we have fairly good information about average IQs by degree and major, and people with less educational history will likely be much less reticent to answer than those with a low IQ test result since there are so many celebrated geniuses who didn’t complete their schooling.
The average tested IQ on the survey was about 125, which is close to my estimate of the true average IQ around here; I don’t entirely trust the testing site that Yvain used, but I think it’s skewing low, and that ought to counteract some of the reporting bias that I’d still expect to see.
125 is pretty much in line with what you’d expect if you assume that everyone here is, or is going to be, a four-year college graduate in math, philosophy, or a math-heavy science or engineering field (source). That’s untrue as stated, of course, but we do skew that way pretty hard, and I’m prepared to assume that the average contributor has that kind of intellectual chops.
I think that’s a fair assessment, although it might be because my guess was around 120 to start with. I never meant to say we’re not smart around here, far from it, but I don’t think we’re all borderline geniuses either. It’s important to keep perspective and very easy to overestimate yourself.
The average self-reported IQ.
If we really wanted to measure LWs collective IQ, I’d suggest using the education data as a proxy; we have fairly good information about average IQs by degree and major, and people with less educational history will likely be much less reticent to answer than those with a low IQ test result since there are so many celebrated geniuses who didn’t complete their schooling.
The average tested IQ on the survey was about 125, which is close to my estimate of the true average IQ around here; I don’t entirely trust the testing site that Yvain used, but I think it’s skewing low, and that ought to counteract some of the reporting bias that I’d still expect to see.
125 is pretty much in line with what you’d expect if you assume that everyone here is, or is going to be, a four-year college graduate in math, philosophy, or a math-heavy science or engineering field (source). That’s untrue as stated, of course, but we do skew that way pretty hard, and I’m prepared to assume that the average contributor has that kind of intellectual chops.
I think that’s a fair assessment, although it might be because my guess was around 120 to start with. I never meant to say we’re not smart around here, far from it, but I don’t think we’re all borderline geniuses either. It’s important to keep perspective and very easy to overestimate yourself.