Fri 1 Sep 2006
This Just In
Posted by Erin under Arts and Culture
[3] Comments
Dr. G has uncovered the following interesting tidbit in his research this week. The data set he is using follows groups of kids from the time they are 12 into adulthood. Early on, the survey asks the kids if they think they will go to college. They answer with a percentage– 0% being totally sure they will never attend college, 100% being absolutely sure that they will. Later they come back and see if the kids actually went to college. The results?
53% of the kids who said they were 100% sure went to college.
76% of the kids who said they were only 99% sure went to college.
So the kids who were slightly less adamant were more likely to make it.
In other news, I haven’t looked at Brick Testament for a few years, but the friendly “reverend” has got tons of new stuff. It’s bits of the Bible illustrated with Lego dioramas. He gives each story a set of warning symbols: N for nudity, V for violence, S for Sex, C for Cursing. You know how that one time Jesus said cut off your hand if it causes you to sin? Yep, fully illustrated, with Lego blood and little dismembered Lego limbs.

Interesting! I can’t wait to hear what Dr. G makes of it. I wonder if in registering the chance that they might not go, the 99%-sure group showed that they were slightly more critical/precise thinkers, and therefore more likely to end up going.
Tara, that bit of data is actually unrelated to his research, he just stumbled across it, so I don’t think he’ll do anything in particular with it. He was wondering if it could be used as a measure of personal optimism. I had the same interepretation as you.
Here’s another weird one: you get pretty much the same pattern using parent expectations for their kids.