The Department of Iffy Science

I am always sceptical of studies that propose to measure IQ. Not only is it an arbitrary quantification, but that there are none of the standards necessary to make it into a comparable measurement. So looking at this article: E-mails 'hurt IQ more than pot', I have to wonder how one goes about making a running guage of people's IQ. The authors of the study are using IQ as a measure of productivity, and rather than just saying productivity, they use "IQ" in order to imply something fundamental.

I am tempted to think that this report is a hoax based on this factoid:

Nine out of 10 people thought colleagues who answered messages during face-to-face meetings were rude, while three out of 10 believed it was not only acceptable, but a sign of diligence and efficiency.

Unless I am mistaken in my math, this means that at least two out of 10 people believe that answering messages in face-to-face meetings in both rude and a sign of diligence and efficiency. Obviously, those two have had their brains melted via Outlook.