Let's say you had a caliper that added a random number between zero and one inch to every measurement. If you measured a trillion small peas and a trillion big peas, you would be able to conclude that one set was smaller than the other. If you compared two peas, it'd be a 50-50 guess driven by that random number.

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rcxdude 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

IQ tests have a 95% confidence interval of about 10, so it's a bit more accurate than you're implying, but still a range of a good fraction of a standard deviation. (basically, the measurement is about 5 times sharper than the variation in the population, so it's for sure a blurry view but they do give you a meaningful idea of where an individual sits in that distribution)

	▲	hirvi74 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		My test only provided at a 90% CI. Not like it is a substantial difference, but I thought I’d throw that out there. Then again, the same psychologist told me that the discrepancy between my scores was so large that a true FSIQ cannot be used. In a sense, he told me that based on that test, I didn't actually have an IQ that could be accurate measured based on that given test. Apparently, it’s not normal to have almost two SD between some scores... Being a smart idiot isn't easy work, but someone has to do it.

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xboxnolifes 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

You seem to be suggesting that IQ tests simply don't work, not that their point isn't to compare people.

	▲	hirvi74 3 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I'd even suggest the point of these tests is more than simply comparing people. IQ tests, at least how they are commonly used, are used to determine the one's worth as a human-being. I am not saying I personally agree with those views, but merely that such views are reflected in many modern societies and how people treat one another.
	▲	andrewaylett 3 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I think that would be a fair summary of my opinion of them, especially when related to the somewhat problematic view of "IQ" in popular culture. As far as I can tell, their only real purpose in the UK is to try to convince "intelligent" people to give money to MENSA.