<p><a href="http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&amp;context=psychology_publications&amp;sei-redir=1&amp;referer=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar%3Fion%3D1%26espv%3D2%26bav%3Don.2%2Cor.r_cp.%26bvm%3Dbv.87920726%2Cd.aWw%26biw%3D1423%26bih%3D701%26dpr%3D1%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26lr%26q%3Drelated%3A1mCrasWnQQb4qM%3Ascholar.google.com%2F#search=%22related%3A1mCrasWnQQb4qM%3Ascholar.google.com%2F%22">Firmin et al. (2008)</a> tested the validity of a handful of online IQ tests by having college students complete IQ tests at three different websites and also complete a validated lab measure, the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS). They found that there were moderate correlations ($r$ values were around 0.4 to 0.5) between some of the online tests and the RIAS, though other tests did not have a significant correlation with the RIAS. Thus, there was some evidence that online IQ tests are measuring the same kinds of things as lab-based IQ tests, but the correlations were weak and some tests were better than others. </p>

<p>In short: online IQ tests are widely variable in their validity, and even the good ones are probably not all that accurate.</p>

<p><strong>Reference</strong></p>

<p>Firmin, M., Hwang, C., Burger, A., Sammons, J., &amp; Lowrie, R. (2008). Evaluating the concurrent validity of three web-based IQ tests
and the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS). <em>Eastern Education Journal, 37</em>, 20-28.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T20:58:11.683Z
2015-03-11T20:58:11.683Z
Josh
<p>Online IQ tests often yield wildly varying results (say 60 - 150). These are actual values obtained by repeated measures. It is puzzling, because it's such a wide range. How can the same person be mentally retarded and a genius at the same time?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T18:02:43.127Z
Because most online tests are worthless and generally more interested in getting traffic than to provide an accurate result.
Alex
<intelligence><test><internet>
Why might a person get widely varying scores on different online IQ tests?
user75131
# Why might a person get widely varying scores on different online IQ tests?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-11)

Online IQ tests often yield wildly varying results (say 60 - 150). These are actual values obtained by repeated measures. It is puzzling, because it's such a wide range. How can the same person be mentally retarded and a genius at the same time?

**Tags:** intelligence, test, internet

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Because most online tests are worthless and generally more interested in getting traffic than to provide an accurate result.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-11. Score: 9

[Firmin et al. (2008)](http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=psychology_publications&sei-redir=1&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar%3Fion%3D1%26espv%3D2%26bav%3Don.2%2Cor.r_cp.%26bvm%3Dbv.87920726%2Cd.aWw%26biw%3D1423%26bih%3D701%26dpr%3D1%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26lr%26q%3Drelated%3A1mCrasWnQQb4qM%3Ascholar.google.com%2F#search=%22related%3A1mCrasWnQQb4qM%3Ascholar.google.com%2F%22) tested the validity of a handful of online IQ tests by having college students complete IQ tests at three different websites and also complete a validated lab measure, the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS). They found that there were moderate correlations ($r$ values were around 0.4 to 0.5) between some of the online tests and the RIAS, though other tests did not have a significant correlation with the RIAS. Thus, there was some evidence that online IQ tests are measuring the same kinds of things as lab-based IQ tests, but the correlations were weak and some tests were better than others.

In short: online IQ tests are widely variable in their validity, and even the good ones are probably not all that accurate.

**Reference**

Firmin, M., Hwang, C., Burger, A., Sammons, J., & Lowrie, R. (2008). Evaluating the concurrent validity of three web-based IQ tests
and the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS). *Eastern Education Journal, 37*, 20-28.


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