Q: Is this survey
scientifically accurate?
A: NO FREAKING WAY!
We're doing this only over the internet, which means our sample size will be
limited to Internet
users, and name enthusiasts in general.
This messes up the data already. Plus, because people who do internet surveys
aren't always as gung-ho about names as we are, a lot of people are probably
fudging the answers (e.g., I really don't think anyone's parents gave them the
middle name of STFU***hole, but you never know!).
Q: Can I take the
survey more than once?
A: Though we can't stop you, we'd appreciate it if you
didn't take it more than once for *yourself*. You may fill in the answers for
friends or other family members, but if you take the survey 47 times, and say
your middle name is, say, METHUSELEH, it will probably screw up our data.
HOWEVER, with every entry, we get your IP address, so we can tell if someone has
accidentally clicked "enter" twice and things of that nature, and therefore can
eliminate some mistakes.
Q: Where are the
results?
A: Most surveys you take show your results in a cute
little graph once you hit "enter." This one is different-- because there are so
many variables (i.e., place, race, etc.), it would be impossible to measure
everything at once on a graph. Periodically, I will
post results from the survey that might show interesting trends.
Q: Why are the results
so vague?
A: This is because I don't have that many results
tabulated so far. For example, only 61 people born during the 1940s and 1950s
have taken the quiz so far, way too few to come up with even any trends. Also,
people are answering this survey from lots of different countries, so we are
looking at data from everywhere. This skews things.
Basically, we haven't had enough responses yet to see trends based on race/ethnicity, parent's education/location etc.
Q: What if I don't have
a middle name?
A: That's great! I know tons of people without middle names, we want to hear
from you too!
More later as people either send them in, or I think of them.