rant: online "tests"

[lenfant_de_jeu]

Now a very nifty friend of mine finds some very nifty things online. I followed a link to a quiz and the first question had me immediately fly into a rage and close the tab.

Comments

[marsden_online]

You weren't the only one who made that sort of complaint about the style/simplicity of questions :-/

[hugs] and I hope you get your voice back and assorted other illness-related woes out of the way soon.

[lenfant_de_jeu]

thanks, I can hold out in hope and I know in time things will heal, just taking a mighty long time!

and I have no idea why it irked me so, but now I'm on the high horse, may as well ride it.

[d_h]

you wrote:
> but I think burglary would be better with two so we can grab more stuff....
Now, I disagree there. From numerous cop shows it is clear that if you involve other people they will break down under interrogation and reveal all.

[lenfant_de_jeu]

that's when we skip to the bit about murder...

[d_h]

"Looks like another burglary gone wrong, detective"

While I might well pick the completely opposite choice than you on several of the scenarios, all that really shows is my assumption is a different context.

It's a bit like the various online IQ tests that ask questions about American currency.

[standgale]

lol, by the second question I knew the set of questions that you meant, and there are many complaints about them and related sets of questions - especially from the people whom it is (not) diagnosing, especially when you factor in the tendency to take things literally and the personal requirement to get the answer exactly right.

[standgale]

this one is interesting, and provides a pretty graph indicating certain character traits. Graphs are always good, but the questionnaire is very long.
http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

The main problem with it is that the writer is kind of fixated on the idea that Neanderthal genes are what makes people autistic, which is the basis for some of the more out-of-place questions.

[lenfant_de_jeu]

isn't that the issue with all tests/surveys/questionnaires.

Almost all of them are poorly written/worded and badly biased towards the writers intentions or interpretations.

How hard is it to write a proper decent non leading yet decently articulated question?

My mind it does explode (and not just because of the jackhammer headache)

[standgale]

"How hard is it to write a proper decent non leading yet decently articulated question?"

Presumably, very!

[angmonster]

I think the idea is not to think about the answers too much, which I think would be nearly impossible for you :P

[lenfant_de_jeu]

but
we
must
understand
the
question
to
answer
it
or
it
won't
give
me
the
right
result
and
then
we'll
all
be
DOOOOOOOOMMMEEED

Dooomed I tell you DOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDD