Survey Time!

Written by Barbara Erochina

Recently I filled out an extensive survey at work. The results measured everything from my interpersonal relationships, to my work habits, to my common stress-inducers. As I sat and waded through the piles of information the survey gathered about me, the process got me thinking about the millions of surveys that exist out there. They range widely from ones as simple as an 8 point web questionnaire that tells you which “celebrity” personality you are, to surveys which companies pay hundreds of dollars for per employee to conduct.

What I find most interesting is that no matter how thorough these surveys may be, almost all come with a disclaimer that stresses that the survey is not a complete explanation of a person. As deeply complex human beings, we all know that no set of questions could result in a perfect and holistic view of an individual. Yet, we seem almost obsessed with different methods that help us categorize ourselves and others around us.

There is a strange human fascination that drives us all towards a desire to explain ourselves, or at least create systems which help to sort each other out by personality, interests, age, profession, and so on.

However, when I think about my relationships with others, I would personally hate to be treated on any one dimensional level. Yet, I love these surveys and finding out what “kind of person” I am.

Do you fill out surveys which promise to tell you something about yourself? If so, what is your motivation and what do you do (if anything) with the findings?

Image Credit: lynnefeatherstone