Episode 64: IQ

Episode 64: IQ

Author: Tom Chivers and Stuart Ritchie February 11, 2025 Duration: 1:14:58

Every so often there’s a controversy related to IQ. The latest was caused by [checks notes] the new Vice President of the US attacking the IQ of a political podcaster on Twitter.

You could argue that the VP should have better things to be doing. But Tom and Stuart certainly don’t, because they’ve recorded a whole episode of The Studies Show on the science of IQ. Hasn’t IQ been debunked as a measure? Does anyone take it seriously in 2025? Doesn’t an IQ test only tell you how good you are at doing IQ tests? In this episode, find out the answers to all these questions and more.

The Studies Show is sponsored by Works in Progress magazine. It’s an online magazine associated with the broad “progress studies” movement, where you can find excellent, data-driven essays on what works to drive scientific and technological advances. You can find every issue of the magazine, for free, at worksinprogress.co.

Show notes

* JD Vance’s tweet about Rory Stewart’s IQ; Rory Stewart’s response

* Study on how standardised testing helps get more poor/minority kids into “gifted and talented” programmes

* 2023 meta-analysis on intelligence and lifespan

* 2018 study (n >2m) from the Israeli military on intelligence and early mortality

* Brief Nature article discussing why intelligence might relate to lifespan

* 2018 article on the psychological problems of high-IQ people

* Huge Swedish study on psychiatric hospitalisation and intelligence

* Can you ever be too smart for your own good?

* Meta-analysis on self-knowledge of IQ

* 2020 study showing that the Dunning-Kruger effect is a “statistical artefact

* 2023 follow-up analysis

Credits

The Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencefictionspod.substack.com/subscribe

Every week, Tom Chivers and Stuart Ritchie pull apart the biggest arguments and most confusing claims making headlines. Science Fictions isn't just about celebrating breakthroughs; it's a necessary dive into the messy, contested, and often surprising realities of how science actually works. You'll hear them unpack heated debates, examine questionable studies, and explore why even solid research can sometimes lead to public confusion. This podcast serves as a guide through the noise, separating compelling evidence from overblown narratives. Each episode feels like a conversation with two deeply informed friends who aren't afraid to ask tough questions, offering clarity on topics that matter. For anyone curious about the stories behind the science headlines, this is an essential listen. Tune in for thoughtful analysis that goes beyond the press release, grounded in a genuine fascination with how we know what we know.
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