Tag Archives: Research

The Eccentricity Quiz and other indicators

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I recently wrote a post on my Eclectic Change blog about my own personal work in progress of Eccentricity being a slippery slope.  I created a non serious quiz as part of the post. Here is an excerpt and the quiz.

In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on
the part of an individual.  It could be construed as a personality
that is bizarre: conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual. 
But there is another far more powerful meaning: out of center or having
an axis or point of support that is not centrally placed. Off
center means that being eccentric can show up in different
extremes.  The word extreme is a clue. Here are some questions to help
you decided your own eccentricity.

Eccentricity Quiz

  1. Would you consider yourself grounded and anchored?
  2. Are you so flexible that you don’t stand for anything?
  3. Do you feel balanced?  (Side note – it is my balance that shows up
    problematic on my Wii Fitness.)
  4. Do people find you unpredictable or predictable in your
    unpredictability?
  5. Seriously, do you care what people think about you?
  6. Do you like to be convoluted?
  7. Do you have more ideas than you know what to do with them?
  8. Do your clothes never match on the outside but your underwear and
    shocks do?
  9. Do you like to be a “devil’s advocate” in debates?
  10. Do others think you are rude but you think you are refreshingly
    blunt?

Scoring

Give yourself a point for each question that you answered yes
except for questions 1, 3 and 5.  Give yourself  a point for question
1, 3 and 5, if you answered  no. If you have a score of
6 or more,  you may be eccentric. (By the way, these questions and the
scoring is totally off the top of my head and is meant for amusement
purposes only.)

Here is another view of the top five indicators of an eccentric personality taken from Martin Howard's recent article on "Why we need eccentricity". Source is Dr. David Weeks*.

•
A non-conforming attitude

• Creativity

•
Curiosity

• Idealism

• An obsession with a
hobby or hobbies

In Eccentrics, David Weeks & Jamie James  summarize findings
from
a systematic study of "eccentrics": highly talented and unusual
people. They infuse comedy and entertainment into the often barren
landscape of
social science research while investigating the fascinating characters.
Eccentrics vary between genuine geniuses and charming crackpots. Their
defining
features are a refusal to hold commonly held beliefs and/or refusal to
act
according to the norms of society.

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New Survey: How do you define Success?

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I have begun some research for my contribution to a new book and I could really use your help. Success is one of those interesting concepts. Like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder. It is not so much an end result as a value judgment of who one wants to be. Therefore it is different for every person.
There are four overall objectives, two of which make it quite unique:

  1. How do people define success (for themselves personally)?
  2. How does age influence how we see success?
  3. Is there a difference between those that use social networks and those that don't?
  4. Is there any correlation between "personality types" and how they define success?

Question 4 will be addressed in an optional section at the end of the survey for those respondents who are familiar with the five personality systems being used.
Since you read this blog, I am hoping that you will provide me with this data.

I am collecting input in three ways:

  1. Through Social Networks directly – if you use Twitter, the definition has to be 140 characters or less. Please @robertahill and add #success (in case the first gets dropped)
  2. Via comments and discussions below – so please join the dialogue.
  3. A more in depth survey which I really hope that if you have read this far then you will take the survey by clicking the link below:



takesurvey

Also, would you will Retweet and pass this link along to others. Your support is greatly appreciated. Results will be posted here on my blog and through Twitter and LinkedIn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This survey will remain open until at least Feb. 5th.

Update Evening, Jan 25th:

Thanks to early responders, fix a typo AND put in additional theme that somehow was missed while entering the choices.

Update Jan 26th:

The survey has an optional area for you to add your name and email
should you want to retain credit for anything you write OR if you would
like me to get in contact with you. NO emails will be published or
shared.  There is no link referral mechanisms - so unless you provide your info, it is completely anonymous.

Respondents are slowly coming in via all sources. Thanks for putting the word out.

Update Jan 29th:

I have not determined how I will use the data. Naturally, all
written comments would be quoted directly – with or without
attributions depending on what respondents have indicated.  My
intention was not to offend by using the statement "relinquish of
rights.  I simply wanted to be sure that I had permission without
having to negate confidentiality.  Rather, I wanted to ensure that the
data – even if anonymous was not used with consent.  Hence the opt out
section. I hope I have clarified my intentions by making some additions.

Someone pointed out that the survey takes much more than 3 – 5
minutes.  I must have under estimated and apologize for those that felt
I was misleading. I have adjusted the intro accordingly.