Studies claim men are funnier than women

5000 people took part in the studies.
5000 people took part in the studies. Photo credit: Getty

Researchers are claiming there's truth to the stereotype that men are funnier than women.

Scientists from Aberystwyth University in Wales and the University of North Carolina carried out 28 studies examining how funny 5000 people were.

Participants in the studies were asked to write a caption for a cartoon. These captions were then ranked by others in terms of how funny they were.

Their genders were not revealed at the time. 

The results showed that 63 percent of men are funnier than the average woman.

"But of course, just because it exists does not mean it is true." wrote lead researcher Dr Gil Greengross in Psychology Today.

"To clarify, the whole thing is not about 'women are not funny'" he told Radio 1 Newsbeat on Tuesday.

"Obviously there are some very funny stand-up comedians and I know many female comedians." 

He says women often look for a sense of humour in a partner as it is "strongly correlated with intelligence" whereas men prefer women who will laugh at their jokes. 

The research has been called "unnecessary" by British comedian Marina Bye.

"You want the worst and the best comedians to try because you never know. This study will cripple bravery," she told Radio 1 Newsbeat.

"I think it's really unnecessary to do this study." 

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