I just did a fast-and-dirty version of this study with some of the students I’m TAing for, in a freshman class at Stanford called “Preventing Human Extinction”. No promises I got all the details right, in either the survey or the analysis.
MTurkers (n=~250, having a hard time extracting it from 1-3? different samples): - expansive altruism (M = 4.4, SD = 1.1) - effectiveness-focus scale (M = 4.4, SD = 1.1) - 49% of MTurkers had a mean score of 4+ on both scales - 14% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales - 3% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
NYU students (n=96) - expansive altruism (M = 4.1, SD = 1.1) - effectiveness-focus (M = 4.3, SD = 1.1) - 39% of NYU students had a mean score of 4+ on both scales - 6% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales - 2% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
EAs (n=226): - expansive altruism (M = 5.6, SD = 0.9) - effectiveness-focus (M = 6.0, SD = 0.8) - 95% of effective altruist participants had a mean score of 4+ on both scales - 81% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales - 33% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
Vael sample (Stanford freshman taking a class called “Preventing Human Extinction” in 2022, n=27 included, removed one for lack of engagement) - expansive altruism (M = 4.2, SD = 1.0) - effectiveness-focus (M = 4.3, SD = 1.0) - 48% of Vael sample participants had a mean score of 4+ on both scales, − 4% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales, − 0% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
And Excel apparently didn’t decide to save the formulas, gah. Formulas at the bottom are: =AVERAGE(K3:K29), =STDEV(K3:K29), =AVERAGE(R3:R29), =STDEV(R3:R29), =COUNTIF(V3:V29, TRUE)/COUNTA(V3:V29), =COUNTIF(W3:W29, TRUE)/COUNTA(W3:W29), =COUNTIF(X3:X29, TRUE)/COUNTA(X3:X29) and the other formulas are: =AND(K3>4,R3>4), =AND(K3>5,R3>5), =AND(K3>6,R3>6) dragged down through the rest of the columns
I just did a fast-and-dirty version of this study with some of the students I’m TAing for, in a freshman class at Stanford called “Preventing Human Extinction”. No promises I got all the details right, in either the survey or the analysis.
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QUICK SUMMARY OF DATA FROM https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7f3sq7ZHcRsaBBeMD/what-psychological-traits-predict-interest-in-effective
MTurkers (n=~250, having a hard time extracting it from 1-3? different samples):
- expansive altruism (M = 4.4, SD = 1.1)
- effectiveness-focus scale (M = 4.4, SD = 1.1)
- 49% of MTurkers had a mean score of 4+ on both scales
- 14% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales
- 3% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
NYU students (n=96)
- expansive altruism (M = 4.1, SD = 1.1)
- effectiveness-focus (M = 4.3, SD = 1.1)
- 39% of NYU students had a mean score of 4+ on both scales
- 6% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales
- 2% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
EAs (n=226):
- expansive altruism (M = 5.6, SD = 0.9)
- effectiveness-focus (M = 6.0, SD = 0.8)
- 95% of effective altruist participants had a mean score of 4+ on both scales
- 81% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales
- 33% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
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VAEL RESULTS:
Vael personally:
- Expansive altruism: 4.2
- Effectiveness-focus: 6.3
Vael sample (Stanford freshman taking a class called “Preventing Human Extinction” in 2022, n=27 included, removed one for lack of engagement)
- expansive altruism (M = 4.2, SD = 1.0)
- effectiveness-focus (M = 4.3, SD = 1.0)
- 48% of Vael sample participants had a mean score of 4+ on both scales,
− 4% had a mean score of 5+ on both scales,
− 0% had a mean score of 6+ on both scales
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Survey link is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeY-cFioo7SLMDuHx1w4Rll6pwuRnenvjJOfi1z8WCNNwCBiA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Data is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SFLH4bGC-j0nGuy315z_HH4LwdNAiusa/view?usp=sharing
And Excel apparently didn’t decide to save the formulas, gah. Formulas at the bottom are: =AVERAGE(K3:K29), =STDEV(K3:K29), =AVERAGE(R3:R29), =STDEV(R3:R29), =COUNTIF(V3:V29, TRUE)/COUNTA(V3:V29), =COUNTIF(W3:W29, TRUE)/COUNTA(W3:W29), =COUNTIF(X3:X29, TRUE)/COUNTA(X3:X29) and the other formulas are: =AND(K3>4,R3>4), =AND(K3>5,R3>5), =AND(K3>6,R3>6) dragged down through the rest of the columns