Fun project...need data

[tendiw]

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I would like to collect data on the MCAT based around the concept of mass hysteria.
In one experiment we performed, we got a group of actors in a bus to display fake symptoms of nausea and illness and one guy to scream out there was an infectious virus spreading fast around the controlled bus.
Within 5 minutes people started claiming they had the same symptoms and were having the EXCAT same problems as the actors. This basically showed people believed in this fake virus so much that they ended up falsifying their own symtomps and getting "sick" when they were perfectly healthy...hence mass hysteria.

What does this project have to do with SDN?
I want to collect data on how many people felt the MCAT content to be difficult on their first exposure to it, versus how many people believed it was hard AFTER hearing numerous people say it was hard.
I would like to collect data on how many people felt the real exam was unexpected when they wrote it without influence from the forums and how many felt it was unexpected after influence from the forums.

So far my group has had real tests on people outside a testing center to determine how many people "felt MCAT biology was like verbal". Turns out 96% of testers who had never used an Internet med forum felt the MCAT biology was nothing like verbal while 87% of testers who use forums like SDN felt MCAT biology was like verbal (which is a popular belief here). Clearly there seems to be some influence in perception based on using online websites.

This is a side project to see if the effects of mass hysteria are more broad that simple illness but can affect everyday perceptions individuals have about events or objects.

Thanks to those who participate. Leave a commen below answering our questions and we will collect as many comments as we can for data!

 

[sector9]

Can't wait to see the citation of this thread in the Journal of MCAT Statistics.

FWIW, i never read SDN until after I took the MCAT and i didn't feel like BS and VR were similar

 

[vc7777]

I would like to collect data on the MCAT based around the concept of mass hysteria.
In one experiment we performed, we got a group of actors in a bus to display fake symptoms of nausea and illness and one guy to scream out there was an infectious virus spreading fast around the controlled bus.
Within 5 minutes people started claiming they had the same symptoms and were having the EXCAT same problems as the actors. This basically showed people believed in this fake virus so much that they ended up falsifying their own symtomps and getting "sick" when they were perfectly healthy...hence mass hysteria.

What does this project have to do with SDN?
I want to collect data on how many people felt the MCAT content to be difficult on their first exposure to it, versus how many people believed it was hard AFTER hearing numerous people say it was hard.
I would like to collect data on how many people felt the real exam was unexpected when they wrote it without influence from the forums and how many felt it was unexpected after influence from the forums.

So far my group has had real tests on people outside a testing center to determine how many people "felt MCAT biology was like verbal". Turns out 96% of testers who had never used an Internet med forum felt the MCAT biology was nothing like verbal while 87% of testers who use forums like SDN felt MCAT biology was like verbal (which is a popular belief here). Clearly there seems to be some influence in perception based on using online websites.

This is a side project to see if the effects of mass hysteria are more broad that simple illness but can affect everyday perceptions individuals have about events or objects.

Thanks to those who participate. Leave a commen below answering our questions and we will collect as many comments as we can for data!

So, let me get this straight? You experimented on a bus of people who did not know ahead of time, presumably? What institutional IRB approved your "mass hysteria" human research?

 

[Lil Mick]

Dubious about the first study being approved, but here's my experience with the MCAT:

I didn't know about SDN or any on-line resources for the MCAT/premed route. My PI wound up helping me figure out what I needed to do to get into an MD/PhD program.

So, I read a few science books and magazines to prepare for the MCAT and found out how to take it (other state during finals--ugh). The verbal didn't seem to mirror the biological science section at all. I'm not sure if that's something that's taught in MCAT classes or not, or if pre-med advisors have you practice strategies for both sections...

 

[tendiw]

Actually this is an independent research project. The bus was of a school team bus...the actors were fellow teammates.
This research isn't affiliated with any organization like I said, it's a side project me and s few people are doing. I'm doing it to he'll a friend with a psychology project he will be attempting next year.

 

[AestheticMed]

This sounds very similar to a House episode...

 

[vc7777]

Actually this is an independent research project. The bus was of a school team bus...the actors were fellow teammates.
This research isn't affiliated with any organization like I said, it's a side project me and s few people are doing. I'm doing it to he'll a friend with a psychology project he will be attempting next year.

So, even if this is independent "research", I don't think you are absolved of following legal and moral guidelines of ethical human subjects research.

While I commend your interest in research and your inquisitive mind, I caution you to not equate this to an "experiment". At best this was prank, as I doubt it will be rigourous enough to generalizable or publishable. For any experimentation to be useful, it must add to our current knowledge on the topic. If your experiment has little value to the field, then you probably cannot justify ANY risk to your subjects. As such, any harm (including psychological and transient) is probably not worth it.

 

[Myuu]

SDN is not to be used to gather data without prior permission. Please consider contacting the admins if you wish to pursue this further.