Beliefs and Personality - online study- need your help!

[PatrickRosenkranz]

Hi.
My name is Patrick and I am conducting research for a PhD in Psychology at Newcastle University, UK.
I am conducting a study on beliefs and personality and am looking for
participants. If you have 10-20 minutes to spare, then please help me out
and go to the link below. Most people find the questions interesting and you also have the chance to win a £30 online gift voucher. Anyone can participate!

What is the study about?

I am interested in the structure of beliefs in modern society. The beliefs
we hold influence our lives and our behaviour and so it is important to
understand the various psychological correlates of different types of belief.
At the moment, I am looking at how our existential beliefs relate to some of our personality characteristics.
My interest lies in all kinds of beliefs, i.e. beliefs from both secular as
well as non-secular viewpoints.

If you are interested, you can go to the survey by clicking this link:

http://www.students.ncl.ac.uk/p.m.rosenkranz/ecs20profstudy1.php (http://www.students.ncl.ac.uk/p.m.ro...profstudy1.php)

The survey is absolutely anonymous and confidential and is fully approved by the Psychology Ethics Committee, Newcastle University.
The posting of this study on the JREF forum has been approved by an
admistrator.

Thank you very much,
Patrick Rosenkranz

[andyandy]

submitted!

The first two sections seemed to have an autistic-spectrum slant.....

Now, where's my voucher? :D

[kmortis]

Submitted

Now, where's andyandy's voucher?

[ImaginalDisc]

"10) People often tell me I went to far in driving my point home in a discussion. *"

Too, not to.

"34) When I learn about historical events, I do not focus on exact events. * "

Do you mean, "exact details?"

[kmortis]

"10) People often tell me I went to far in driving my point home in a discussion. *"

Too, not to.

"34) When I learn about historical events, I do not focus on exact events. * "

Do you mean, "exact details?"

Well, ID, I think we know how YOUR survey went. ;)

[drkitten]

Hi.
My name is Patrick and I am conducting research for a PhD in Psychology at Newcastle University, UK.
I am conducting a study on beliefs and personality and am looking for
participants.

Er, Patrick, you do know that the self-selecting participants in a on-line survey are sufficiently unrepresentative of the general population that any conclusions you draw from this survey are
meaningless?

If you don't know that, I assure you that your readers will.

[Beerina]

> 15) I am fascinated by how machines work.

We were at a county fair this fall and they had these ancient 1-cylinder engines driving pumps and saws on display, absolutely fascinating stuff from a hundred years ago.


["10) People often tell me I went to far in driving my point home in a discussion. *"

Too, not to.[/quote]

Lemme guess what you answered to this:

60) When I read something, I always notice whether it is grammatically correct. *


Oh, by the way, the response would be:
"Too", not "to".

[ImaginalDisc]

> 15) I am fascinated by how machines work.

We were at a county fair this fall and they had these ancient 1-cylinder engines driving pumps and saws on display, absolutely fascinating stuff from a hundred years ago.




Too, not to.

Lemme guess what you answered to this:

60) When I read something, I always notice whether it is grammatically correct. *


Oh, by the way, the response would be:
"Too", not "to".


Oh, I have been burned!

[andyandy]

Er, Patrick, you do know that the self-selecting participants in a on-line survey are sufficiently unrepresentative of the general population that any conclusions you draw from this survey are
meaningless?

If you don't know that, I assure you that your readers will.

I guess it depends what the survey is designed to look at - if it's set up to draw general conclusions about the general populace, then i agree, a self-selecting on-line survey is not representative. However it appears (to me) that the survey wants to draw conclusions on an individual level - ie between an individual's personality type and their religious beliefs. For such a measure you could draw valid conclusions from any data set.....
I would presume the conclusion will be of the type

personality type A are less likely than type B to be religious....

[dglas]

Awwww! It didn't even tell me which Star Wars character I was. What a gyp!

So many ambiguous and polarizing questions. So many time I was looking for the "meaningless question" option.

No way of knowing who the respondent is? I find that hard to believe.

[drkitten]

I guess it depends what the survey is designed to look at - if it's set up to draw general conclusions about the general populace, then i agree, a self-selecting on-line survey is not representative. However it appears (to me) that the survey wants to draw conclusions on an individual level - ie between an individual's personality type and their religious beliefs. For such a measure you could draw valid conclusions from any data set.....


I disagree, because the population may be anomolous w.r.t.. the observed correlation.

Just as a simple example : in US society -- and most of the rest of the world -- the taller you are, the wealthier you are. There's a strong correlation between height and wealth. Oddly enough, if you took a survey of jockeys, you would find nearly the opposite, because being small and light is a key to professional success. So my survey of height and wealth that I got at the paddock of the local track still doesn't let me generalize to the population as a whole.

If the JREF draws a large number of nerd-types (as might be expected, being an on-line forum) and a large number of people with strong opinions one way or another about religion (as might be expected given the discussion topics), then the survey might show no relationship between personality and religion. However, in the population as a whole, there might be a strong relationship between non-nerdity and religion, a relationship masked by the underrepresentation of non-nerds.

[ImaginalDisc]

I disagree, because the population may be anomolous w.r.t.. the observed correlation.

Just as a simple example : in US society -- and most of the rest of the world -- the taller you are, the wealthier you are. There's a strong correlation between height and wealth. Oddly enough, if you took a survey of jockeys, you would find nearly the opposite, because being small and light is a key to professional success. So my survey of height and wealth that I got at the paddock of the local track still doesn't let me generalize to the population as a whole.

If the JREF draws a large number of nerd-types (as might be expected, being an on-line forum) and a large number of people with strong opinions one way or another about religion (as might be expected given the discussion topics), then the survey might show no relationship between personality and religion. However, in the population as a whole, there might be a strong relationship between non-nerdity and religion, a relationship masked by the underrepresentation of non-nerds.

IIRC, there is a demographic questions about where the respondents heard about the survey from. Surely the data can be sorted with regards to that.

[andyandy]

If the JREF draws a large number of nerd-types (as might be expected, being an on-line forum) and a large number of people with strong opinions one way or another about religion (as might be expected given the discussion topics), then the survey might show no relationship between personality and religion. However, in the population as a whole, there might be a strong relationship between non-nerdity and religion, a relationship masked by the underrepresentation of non-nerds.

true. good point :)

[wahrheit]

IIRC, there is a demographic questions about where the responded heard about the survey from. Surely the data can be sorted with regards to that.
Yes, I'd be interested in seeing the results of those who selected JREF in the dropdown options.

Interesting survey, at least it makes one briefly think about oneself :)

[Loss Leader]

Also consider that this survey might not be the final instrument. It could be designed to get a rough sense of a hypothesis for more rigorous study. It could just be a way of norming questions for the real survey. Or it could be testing some sort of psychological effect that the apparant purpose of the test does not reveal.

[Beth]

The question "The basis for values and ethics come from reason and human compassion, not from God" doesn't allow for the possibility that I don't think the basis comes from either of those places.

Please post here when your study is completed and the results are available.

[wahrheit]

The question "The basis for values and ethics come from reason and human compassion, not from God" doesn't allow for the possibility that I don't think the basis comes from either of those places.
You're right, the page on religious issues irritated me a little bit, too. There were a few questions where none of the available options applied in my opinion, but for the sake of the survey I then did choose the middle/neutral one.

[ImaginalDisc]

Also consider that this survey might not be the final instrument. It could be designed to get a rough sense of a hypothesis for more rigorous study. It could just be a way of norming questions for the real survey. Or it could be testing some sort of psychological effect that the apparant purpose of the test does not reveal.

It could also be a tool used by the advance scouts of an armada of planet-sized ships filled each with hives of highly intelligent cnidarian invaders who have come to liberate the corals and jellyfish of our planet from the tyranny of humans, chief among the vertebrate usurpers. Oh, how they love our tasty, tasty spines.

[Darth Rotor]

It could also be a tool used by the advance scouts of an armada of planet-sized ships filled each with hives of highly intelligent cnidarian invaders who have come to liberate the corals and jellyfish of our planet from the tyranny of humans, chief among the vertebrate usurpers. Oh, how they love our tasty, tasty spines.
I think the survey is a scouting expedition into cyberspace from Kazakhstan.

Evidence? Borat's Brother is involved! :eek:
This study is investigating how our beliefs and convictions relate to our personilty profile. The surveys you completed include ( in order) the Empathy and Systemizing Scale by Simon Baron-Cohen ( 2004) that measures aspects of your cognitive style
I concur with drkitten's general comments on the potential for bias.

ETA: tkingdoll notes that it is cousin, not brother, to Borat. :)

DR

[tkingdoll]

It's his cousin, not his brother.

I don't think the potential for bias is an issue as long as the results aren't to be applied to the general population.

I do object to the pointless ethnic section though, as in most surveys, the choices were completely cock-eyed. 'Black' is a skin colour while 'Chinese' is a nationality. And then there's 'Asian' - what, China's not in Asia now? And my own ethnic group was not listed, despite being one of only four 'official' ones.

[Marquis de Carabas]

I do object to the pointless ethnic section though, as in most surveys, the choices were completely cock-eyed. 'Black' is a skin colour while 'Chinese' is a nationality. And then there's 'Asian' - what, China's not in Asia now? And my own ethnic group was not listed, despite being one of only four 'official' ones.
Yeah, Carabassian never makes the list either.

[Darth Rotor]

Yeah, Carabassian never makes the list either.

I selected "Other," and then in the explanation, wrote "Other." I agree with the critique of tkingdoll.

Thanks for the "cousin not brother" tkingdoll. :) I could have checked.

DR

[tkingdoll]

Yeah, Carabassian never makes the list either.

I used to be Carabassian but I defected.

Talking of which, how is your glass table?

[ImaginalDisc]

What should Russians tick, "Asian" or "White?"

[Loss Leader]

What should Russians tick, "Asian" or "White?"

If the Russians have a tick, they should see a doctor immediately. As for which box the Russians should check, I have no idea.

[Jimbo07]

Ummm...

Is there a reason that PatrickRosenkranz hasn't responded to any of these early critiques, yet? :confused:

[Marquis de Carabas]

Is there a reason that PatrickRosenkranz hasn't responded to any of these early critiques, yet? :confused:
Ultimately, physics.

[Jimbo07]

Ultimately, physics.

That would have also been the answer if he had replied.

You get two points!

:D

[Marquis de Carabas]

That would have also been the answer if he had replied.
Which is why it's the greatest answer ever.

[wahrheit]

Which is why it's the greatest answer ever.

As usual :D

[Hagrok]

6) I really enjoy caring for other people.
That's a pretty ambiguous statement. (that is, it could mean emotionally or physically caring for someone...)

[drkitten]

The question "The basis for values and ethics come from reason and human compassion, not from God" doesn't allow for the possibility that I don't think the basis comes from either of those places.

Oh, the questions blew chunks. Great green gobs of greasy grimy,.... you get the idea.

On the other hand, they're also obviously "standardized" questions, and there are almost certainly existing normative standards for those questions, so Patrick doesn't really have the liberty to mess with the wording. Not in the course of a Ph.D., certainly. If he wants to go back and redesign the Snidely-Whiplash Anal-Retentive Quibbling Assessment instrument after he's defended --- and then go back and replicate all of Snidely and Whiplash's work on coming up with a large enough sample group to re-norm the test, he's welcome to.

I even encourage him to.

But let the poor guy defend his thesis, first. He's doing a Ph.D. at a very good school, which means he's already in a lot of trouble -- his examiners will expect him to be God and may or may not settle for his simply being Ascelapios.....

[Darth Rotor]

But let the poor guy defend his thesis, first. He's doing a Ph.D. at a very good school, which means he's already in a lot of trouble -- his examiners will expect him to be God and may or may not settle for his simply being Ascelapios.....
Should we infer that him being Mithras would be a handicap? :eek:

DR

[ImaginalDisc]

If the Russians have a tick, they should see a doctor immediately. As for which box the Russians should check, I have no idea.

Tick: "a small dot, mark, check, or electronic signal, as used to mark off an item on a list, serve as a reminder, or call attention to something."

However, I lose because I forgot to use a question mark.

[Kochanski]

So many ambiguous and polarizing questions. So many time I was looking for the "meaningless question" option.



I am with dglas on this.

[Metullus]

I took it. I think I failed...

I'll pray on it.

[PatrickRosenkranz]

Hi all,
first of all, thanks for completing the survey and for your numerous comments.
I'm sorry I haven't replied earlier, my excuse being that I'm collecting data from many different forums and replying to all of them immediately is quite a task, considering that I'm also trying to finish this PhD.

I don't want to go into a detailed discussion/defence of the survey at this point, i.e. while data collection is still ongoing. Your criticisms of the survey, both here and in the feedback part of the study itself have been noted and I 'm sincerely grateful for them.

I will post the results on this forum, once I've completed data collection and analysis and written it up in a coherent form.

If you have any questions or you would like to get in touch with me regarding this study, please email me at p.m.rosenkranz@ncl.ac.uk (p.m.rosenkranz@ncl.ac.uk)


Thanks again.
Best wishes,
Patrick

[Kopji]

Thanks Patrick. Always glad to be obsessive or compulsive for a good cause. :p
I suppose you realize that a difficulty to overcome with these kinds of surveys is an inherent bias toward personalities that take the surveys. But good luck and thanks for being willing to post your eventual results here.

[tkingdoll]

I suppose you realize that a difficulty to overcome with these kinds of surveys is an inherent bias toward personalities that take the surveys. But good luck and thanks for being willing to post your eventual results here.

There is no way to get over that if you want to undertake cost-free research. There is also another bias, in that respondents have to have internet access (which means a slightly higher than average income or education level, usually, although that's becoming less and less the case).

Happily, in my particular line of work (marketing), the research is usually specifically seeking 'strong interest' respondents, so we laugh in the face of bias.

[Kopji]

I know I laugh at my own biases sometimes, I suspect they are in everything we do. As long as a study recognizes its own limitations or adjusts for them, no big deal.

I ran into an old buddy at the airport this week, someone I worked with about 15 years ago. I recall him as something of a goof because he never thought things through very well and was not very analytical. He still doesn't think things through and takes big 'look before you leap' chances - but he's head of his own company with about 95 employees and doing pretty darn well.

It's not so much how we are different, but how we can work together that seems to really matter. Just my thought this week.

[PatrickRosenkranz]

Data collection is now complete and I have taken the study offline.

I am very grateful to all of you for your interest and your participation. I really appreciate the time you invested in this. Thank you!

I will post links to the results of the study on this thread, once they become available. Right now I have mountains of data to plow through, but I will post them as soon as I can.

Also, the winner of the prize draw will be notified shortly.

Thanks again and all the best,

Patrick