It's that time of year again. Actually, a little earlier than that time of year, but I'm pushing it ahead a little to match when Ozy and I expect to have more free time to process the results.
The first draft of the 2014 Less Wrong Census/Survey is complete (see 2013 results here) .
You can see the survey below if you promise not to try to take the survey because it's not done yet and this is just an example!
2014 Less Wrong Census/Survey Draft
I want two things from you.
First, please critique this draft (it's much the same as last year's). Tell me if any questions are unclear, misleading, offensive, confusing, or stupid. Tell me if the survey is so unbearably long that you would never possibly take it. Tell me if anything needs to be rephrased.
Second, I am willing to include any question you want in the Super Extra Bonus Questions section, as long as it is not offensive, super-long-and-involved, or really dumb. Please post any questions you want there. Please be specific - not "Ask something about taxes" but give the exact question you want me to ask as well as all answer choices.
Try not to add more than a few questions per person, unless you're sure yours are really interesting. Please also don't add any questions that aren't very easily sort-able by a computer program like SPSS unless you can commit to sorting the answers yourself.
I will probably post the survey to Main and officially open it for responses sometime early next week.
I'll write down a long list of questions. I think they are useful. If you don't like them all because they are too much I would certainly like to keep data about spaced repetition software usage. The question from last year was good.
I would specifically like to have the bolted questions included. With them we could cut the question that asks for self identification as vegetarian.
Given the absence of perfect information our justice system has to convict a few innocent people. Where the optimum of the ratio between guilty going free and innocent getting sentenced? X guilty going free for one innocent being arrested. What's your X?
Morality Questions:
How morally problematic are on a scale of 1 to 5 the following actions:
1) Eating animal products
2) Discriminating against a person based on their gender
3) Abortion at 3 month of age
4) Abortion at 7 month of age
5) Not voting in a national election
6) Rerouting a trolley car to kill one person instead of five.
Options: today, yesterday, 2 to three days ago, up to a week ago, up to a month ago, up to three month ago, up to a year ago, up to three years ago, up to ten years ago, more than ten years ago, never +++
When was the last time you read a scientific paper beyond the abstract that was work related?
When was the last time you read the abstract of a scientific paper that was work related?
When was the last time you read the abstract of a scientific paper that wasn't work related?
When was the last time you read a scientific paper that wasn't work related?
When was the last time you read a science textbook?
When was the last time you used spaced repetition software (Anki, Memosyne, Supermemo etc.)?
When was the last time you made an effort to record personal data for future analysis?
When was the last time you took a Vitamin D supplement?
When was the last time you took a multivitamin supplement?
When was the last time you took a Iron supplement?
When was the last time you took a Creatine supplement?
When was the last time you took a Adrafinil/Modafinil supplement?
When was the last time you drunk alcohol?
When was the last time you smoked?
When was the last time you meditated?
When was the last time you prayed?
When was the last time you got the flu vaccine?
When was the last time you ate flesh?
When was the last time you went the gym?
When was the last time you went jogging?
When was the last time you went dancing?
When was the last time you exercised in any form?
When was the last time you drove a bicycle?
When was the last time you drove a car?
When was the last time you used public transportation?
When was the last time you donated to charity?
How often do you exercise on average per week? {Enter number}
How often do you eat on average meat per week? {Enter number}
(this question allows together with the "When was the last time you ate flesh?" question allows us to to see to what extend people lie to themselves - are sub groups who score higher on the calibration questions better able to estimate their average meat consumption?)
FYI, when I read your abortion questions I was unsure whether you were counting months post conception or post birth. Timing of pregnancy is more often discussed as trimesters or weeks.