Statistical Analysis on Changing Work Values in the USA

Abstract:

Statistical analysis of the USA General Social Survey (GSS) data shows that work values changed radically after the 2008 recession. What used to be the most important value, “Work important and feel accomplishment” became the least important. What used to be the least important values, “Short working hours”, and ” No danger of being fired” became the most important in 2012.

 

Core Values

 

 

Background:  

The Variability of Resumes In The Hiring Process – Irrational Behavior

This spring I took an online course from Coursera, Irrational Behavior, as taught by Dr. Dan Ariely. It was a fascinating course, one that I enjoyed immensely.

Irrational Behavior with Dr. Dan Ariely on Coursera

See my comments on the course from my previous post on Irrational Behavior and Hoarding.

The other writing assignment in the course, was to “Design An Experiment”.  In this course, “experiment” refers to a psychological experiment.  Not a physics, chemistry, or computer science experiment.

From the guidelines – “Design An Experiment” – Please include the following in your paper:
A brief summary of previous (relevant) research. Be sure to use and cite at least one piece of research or theory that your experiment builds on.
Research question. What do you want to find out?
Your hypothesis. What do you think you will find?
A brief overview of the proposed design including identification of your independent and dependent variables.  For more details, check out this guide.
Implications. If your study turns out the way you expect it to, what does that mean?

 

I’ve often thought of the shortcomings of resumes. As so, in many ways, using resumes is rather irrational.  So, I designed an experiment to test the variability of resumes.

Hoarding and Irrational Behavior

This spring I took an online course from Coursera, Irrational Behavior,  as taught by Dr. Dan Ariely, in conjunction with Duke University.

Dr. Dan Ariely Cartoon

 

It was a fascinating course, one that I enjoyed immensely. Different weeks focused on different subjects: Decision Illusions, Money, Cheating and Crime, Work, Self control, how emotions affect decision making. There was always another great insight about human behavior from some experiment that Dr. Ariely or other researchers had conducted.

Part of the class involved some writing assignments. The first assignment was to write a paper to solve a problem, using the principles covered in the Irrational Behavior course.

From the course guidelines, “Solve a Problem”:
There are three parts to this assignment: 1) Describe a problematic behavior 2) Outline existing research 3) Propose a solution. Basically, you will come up with a research-based solution to a problem, applying something that you have learned in this class to a real world problem

I’d seen those shows on television about hoarders, and I decided to apply the Irrational Behavior concepts to hoarding.  When you think of it, it is a most irrational behavior.