Statistics & Probability
Mr. Hamparian
D.N.A.
or
The Propensity of the Student Population of Tantasqua
Senior High School to Participate in Activities Deemed
Dorky and/or Nerdy.
Confronted with the problem of choosing a topic that would (probably)
interest me enough to force me to complete it, I fell back on my
shameful past of Dorky and/or Nerdy activities. In order to determine
the degree to which this dreadful plague of Nerdiness had pervaded our
venerable institute of education and higher learning, I decided that I,
Daniel Riley, must become the one to sniff out the dirty secrets of the
populace. So I turned to that most antiquated method of skullduggery;
the survey.
The survey itself is a deceptively simple thing; a sheet of paper with
some words and some blanks on it. The easiest way to detect one of
these dreadful artifacts is to look for the words 'please check only
one' or 'check all that apply'. However, knowing that these horrid
spies would be passed out under the pretense of some 'school project',
I knew that my victims would be unable to refuse. So began my quest to
uncover the roots of dorkhood within Tantasqua.
In retrospect, I find that the results may have been more interesting
(not to mention making it easier to ferret out the participants, it
being deemed unfair for me to require they name themselves) had I
included questions referring perhaps to income or grade point average.
Then I could have known whether it was the poor, turning in their
ignorance to these vile acts, or the decadent rich collapsing in on
themselves with habits of depravity. I also could have seen whether it
were the uneducated folk who knew no better, or evil-minded scholars
who leashed their brains to tasks other than learning.
Alas, hindsight were always 20/20, as it were. However, back to the
surveys.
Yes, but not only was I interested in what amount of the populace,
rendered in per cent, partook in such depravity. No, also I wished to
know the natures of these horrid acts, and the opines of the fiends who
did them. And so I delved deeply in research into the dark arts
towards which no human mind should willingly lend itself. Or perhaps I
just took a look at the books I owned. It makes no difference. But
the plan I came away with was to create for myself a group of known
offenders, which would find inclusion in the form of opinions but not
the determination of per cent of population. Indeed, in order to ferret
out those saucy enough to openly admit to their depravity, I included
question 5i, which asks if the survey-taker would find interest in the
formation of a peculiar cult known as a 'club' which would celebrate
these unhallowed activities. This was the depth of my daring plot.
So, being now armed with knowledge of these arcane matters, I
formulated my survey. Cunningly I penned the questions which would
force the fiends unwitting to relinquish their dark secrets unto me.
Included with this packet which my proxy delivers unto you is a copy of
this survey, that you may see the care and planning gone into its
development.
The surveys were handed out to the unwitting populace, and I waited
with bated breath for my results to come back to me. Anxiety burned in
my mind as I wondered at the horrid secrets I would discover.
The results came back, and I worked feverishly at them, slaving night
and day to decipher the black knowledge hidden within. And black
knowledge indeed was my reward. I now know things not meant to be
known by the poor, fragile minds of mankind. Of late I have had reason
to believe that I am being followed, no doubt by agents of these
vicious arts who have discerned my experiment and determined to
eliminate me, and with me the knowledge I hold. This is why I have
decided to deliver these secrets unto you. I hold you in great
confidence, and trust of course that you shall not let loose these
secrets which, if unfettered, would mean an end to human life.
But I digress, and grow perhaps overly worried in my dotage. I am
tired now; to bed and rest I go. Tomorrow I shall reveal the secrets
unveiled to me, and thus pass on my burden of knowledge to you, my
friend.
***
Indeed it was worse than I had feared.
A full twenty-one fiftieths, no more nor less, partook at least
slightly in these dark acts. And worse yet, there was a dark core of
three fiftieths of the populace who were the masterminds of these
ceremonies; drenched so deeply in these dark arts that their souls must
have withered away long ago. This knowledge hanging, clutching
dreadfully at my heart, I delved on.
It was determined that the students of the tenth year were least
steeped in depravity, consisting only of thirty-two and one tenth per
cent who were familiar with the dark arts. The ones of the eleventh
year, however, are far beyond salvation. A full fifty-one and one half
per cent of them partake. My suggestion is an inquisition to determine
the offenders, and their burning at the stake. Nerdiness, after all,
is condemned by the Founders. The students of the twelfth year, those
preparing to leave this edifice for other pastures, (of which I am a
member) were somewhere in the middle. Forty-two and one half per cent
of my own class are members of this dark cult.
[Results. Percentage of students who participated in at least one
activity out of {roleplaying games}, {collectible card games}, and
{watching of Japanese animation}. 10th Grade: 32.1%. 11th Grade: 51.5%.
12th Grade: 42.5%. Total: 42%. Note that 9th Grade is not included
individually due to scarcity of participants.]
[Criterion for inclusion. Roleplaying games: answering 'yes' to
question 3. Collectible card games: answering 'yes' to question 4.
Anime: checking at least 3 options for question 5a.]
I found these results rather intriguing, for reason of one of my own
personal observations during my times amongst the damned. For I had
seen that the majority of those who partook of these activities were
males (females being too wise to sully their souls in such a way),
whilst among those surveyed the women held the majority. Thus I am
perhaps inclined to believe that the situation is somewhat more dire
even than my results foretell.
[Results. Percentage of students who were male, as opposed to female.
10th Grade: 39.3% male, 60.7% female. 11th Grade: 37.9% male, 62.1%
female. 12th Grade: 45% male, 55% female. Total: 41% male, 59% female.
Note that 9th Grade is not included individually due to scarcity of
participants.]
[Criterion for inclusion. If thou dost not yet know the difference
'tween man and woman, I wilst not tell thee.]
And this was not all that I found. I have included below an in-depth
analysis of the general data as to what percentage of the fiends
partook of which individual depravity.
[Results. Notes: 1. The letters preceding items in the following
tables (e.g., a. Male:) indicates events that are mutually exclusive
with those of a matching letter. For example, one is either male or
female. 2. Rpg is a common abbreviation for roleplaying games. 3. Ccg
is a common abbreviation for collectible card games. 4. Anime refers
to Japanese animation. 5. Familiar indicates those people at least
somewhat familiar with Anime. (criterion: check at least 3 options for
question 5a.) 6. Otaku indicates people very familiar with Anime.
(criterion: my personal judgement, based upon amount referred to, and
general knowledge of, Anime.) 7. Club indicates people who replied
'yes' to question 5i. 8. Insult indicates people who insulted either
myself or my survey.
10th Grade:
Total Surveyed: 28 persons
a. Male: 11
39.3%
a. Female: 17
60.7%
b. Rpg: 0
0%
c. Ccg: 3
10.7%
b. Anime: 4
14.3%
c. Rpg + Ccg: 0
0%
b. Rpg + Anime: 2
7.1%
b. Ccg + Anime: 0
0%
b. All 3: 0
0%
c. None: 19
67.9%
c. At least 1: 9
32.1%
d. Familiar: 6
21.4%
d. Otaku: 0
0%
e. Club: 1
3.6%
f. Insult: 1
3.6%
11th Grade:
Total Surveyed: 29 persons
a. Male: 11
37.9%
a. Female: 18
62.1%
b. Rpg: 1
3.4%
b. Ccg: 3
10.3%
b. Anime: 4
13.8%
b. Rpg + Ccg: 1
3.4%
b. Rpg + Anime: 0
0%
b. Ccg + Anime: 3
10.3%
b. All 3: 3
10.3%
c. None: 14
48.5%
c. At least 1: 15
51.5%
d. Familiar: 10
34.5%
d. Otaku: 2
6.9%
e. Club: 3
10.3%
f. Insult: 4
13.8%
12th Grade:
Total Surveyed: 40 persons
a. Male: 18
45%
a. Female: 22
55%
b. Rpg: 1
2.5%
b. Ccg: 1
2.5%
b. Anime: 7
17.5%
b. Rpg + Ccg: 1
2.5%
b. Rpg + Anime: 1
2.5%
b. Ccg + Anime: 0
0%
b. All 3: 6
15%
c. None: 23
57.5%
c. At least 1: 17
42.5%
d. Familiar: 14
35%
d. Otaku: 4
10%
e. Club: 6
15%
f. Insult: 0
0%
Total:
Total Surveyed: 100 persons
a. Male: 41
41%
a. Female: 59
59%
b. Rpg: 2
2%
b. Ccg: 7
7%
b. Anime: 15
15%
b. Rpg + Ccg: 2
2%
b. Rpg + Anime: 3
3%
b. Ccg + Anime: 3
3%
b. All 3: 10
10%
c. None: 58
58%
c. At least 1: 42
42%
d. Familiar: 31
31%
d. Otaku: 6
6%
e. Club: 11
11%
f. Insult: 5
5%
End results.]
How brazen! A full eleven per cent of the population of the school
prepared to openly announce their allegiance in a cultish club! I am
too disturbed. I must needs rest before I finish my report. My brain
boils feverishly with my knowledge. The one thing that mollifies my
unrest is that more than half of these open fiends shall soon leave the
halls of Tantasqua. But how many more shall return, with the incoming
flood of those of ninth and tenth year?
***
Now I move on from the results of my general group, and on into that
which includes my list of known culprits. These gibbets of knowledge I
found much more interesting, as they point to the particulars of the
dark practices being spread in our school.
It has come to my attention, through hours of incessantly poring over
the results, that there seems to be steps of proceeding through ever-
deepening levels of depravity. That thing called Anime appears to be
the 'gateway', as it were, since it is most-oft practiced, and those
who practice it are least likely to practice another. Collectible card
games seem to be the next step down. And finally, roleplaying games
indicate the very depths of evil and soullessness. For there are the
least amount who dare delve into the depths of it, and those involved
are most likely to partake of other evils as well.
As I expected, the majority of those involved in these horrid acts are
indeed male, females as I have stated being the wiser gender. Thus,
once the inquisition has begun, I suggest it concentrate largely on the
male population of the school. Let the heretics burn for their crime;
none shall deviate from the norm in any way deemed nonstandard.
Below is included an in-depth analysis of each subdivision of heinous
practices, as well as a total, which accounts for all persons found
guilty of said acts.
[Results.
Rpg
Total Surveyed: 19 persons
a. Male: 13
68.4%
a. Female: 6
31.6%
b. TSR: 7
36.8%
b. Others: 12
63.2%
c. Fantasy: 12
63.2%
c. Sci-fi: 3
15.8%
c. Others: 4
21%
d. Dice: 11
57.9%
d. Diceless: 8
42.1%
e. 9th: 2
10.5%
e. 10th: 3
15.8%
e. 11th: 5
26.3%
e. 12th: 9
47.4%
f. Mixed: 17
89.5%
Notes: 1. As above, preceding letters indicate mutual exclusivity. 2.
TSR indicates that the person has played only, or prefers, the products
of TSR inc., the company which accounts for a large plurality of the
products sold within the general rpg market. Others indicates that the
person prefers any other company to TSR. (Criterion: stating of
preference in question 5a.) 3. Fantasy indicates that the person
prefers fantasy-based rpgs as opposed to other thematic bases. Sci-fi
indicates that the person prefers Science fiction-based rpgs as opposed
to other thematic bases. Others indicates that the person prefers any
other thematic base for rpgs. (criterion: stating of preference in
question 5b.) 4. Dice indicates that the person prefers rpgs using
dice, while Diceless indicates that the person prefers rpgs which do
not use dice. (criterion: stating of preference in question 5c.) 5.
Mixed indicates those people who participated in other Nerdy and/or
Dorky activities as well as rpgs.
Analysis: a. As I expected, more males than females, despite having a
majority of those surveyed being female. More indication that my
results may be a low estimate of the population of the school. b. This
was about what I had expected. I had hoped perhaps for more of a
variety. c. As I expected. d. I had expected a more overwhelming
preference for dice. This is due perhaps to the inclusion of my
friends in the control group, who for the most part share my preference
of diceless roleplaying games. e. No comment. f. I had not expected
rpg players to be such a mixed lot; indeed the most mixed of any
activity. I don't have any theories as to why they seem the most
prevalent.
Ccg
Total Surveyed: 26 persons
a. Male: 18
69.2%
a. Female: 8
30.8%
b. Magic: 20
76.9%
b. Pokemon: 2
7.7%
b. Others: 4
15.4%
c. 9th: 3
11.5%
c. 10th: 3
11.5%
c. 11th: 11
42.3%
c. 12th: 9
34.7%
d. Mixed: 19
73.1%
Notes: 1. As above, preceding letters indicate mutual exclusivity. 2.
Magic indicates a preference for the game Magic: The Gathering, the
current industry leader. Pokemon indicates a preference for the
Pokemon Trading Card Game, the current industry runner-up (especially
among younger children). Others indicates a preference for any other
collectible card game. (criterion: stating of preference in question
4b.) 3. Mixed indicates those people who participated in other Nerdy
and/or Dorky activities as well as ccgs.
Analysis: a. Although I had again expected a majority of males, I had
expected it to be less of a gap with ccgs. However, as it turned out
the gap was actually greater than with rpgs. b. Magic led the pack by
about what I had expected. I had, however, expected Pokemon to have a
greater following than it did. I was probably biased by my two younger
brothers, whose lives at school seem to revolve around the card game.
c. No comment. d. About what I expected. In my personal experience,
those who play ccgs do often tend to participate in others of these
activities.
Anime
Total Surveyed: 36 persons
a. Male: 21
58.3%
a. Female: 15
41.7%
b. Owners: 12
33.4%
b. Viewers: 24
66.6%
c. Anime only: 25
69.4%
c. Anime + Manga: 11
30.6%
d. Anime pref.: 7
46.7%
d. Manga pref.: 1
6.7%
d. No pref.: 7
46.6%
e. Pro club: 15
41.7%
e. Con Club: 21
58.3%
f. Fluff: 14
38.9%
f. Middle: 12
33.3%
f. Serious: 10
27.8%
g. 9th: 3
8.3%
g. 10th: 7
19.4%
g. 11th: 11
30.6%
g. 12th: 15
41.7%
h. Mixed: 21
58.3%
Notes: 1. As above, preceding letters indicate mutual exclusivity. 2.
Owners indicates those who actually own Anime, while Viewers indicates
those who have only seen it. (criterion: answer to question 5b.) 3.
Anime only indicates the person is familiar only with Anime, and not
with Manga. (Manga being Japanese comic books) Anime + Manga indicates
that the person is familiar with both. (criterion: answer to question
5d.) 4. Anime pref. indicates the person prefers Anime to Manga. Manga
pref. indicates the person prefers Manga to Anime. No pref. indicates
the person has no preference. (criterion: answer to question 5h.) 5.
Pro club indicates the person was for the formation of an Anime club,
while Con club indicates the person was against it. (criterion: answer
to question 5i.) 6. Fluff indicates that the person was (according to
my standards) a 'fluff' Anime viewer; had seen only Anime I considered
fluff. Middle indicates the person had seen Anime other than what I
considered fluff, but not what I considered a great amount. Serious
indicated that the person had not only seen Anime other than fluff, but
a fairly large amount as well. (criterion: my own personal opinion.
Anime considered 'fluff' includes: Digimon, Sailor Moon, Speed Racer,
Pokemon, & Dragonball/Z. There were also instances where the person
had seen perhaps a single show that was not fluff, but seemed to fit
into the category of fluff viewer.) 7. Mixed indicates those people who
participated in other Nerdy and/or Dorky activities as well as watching
Anime.
Analysis: a. The male/female percentages were about what I had
expected; a greater mix than the other two activities. b. As expected.
c. I was pleasantly surprised by a slightly higher amount than I had
expected being familiar with Manga. d. Again, a pleasant surprise; I
had expected a greater majority to prefer Anime over Manga. The fact
that I got even one person who preferred Manga surprised me, as even
among fans Manga is much less well-known in the US, and much harder to
find. e. Happily, a fairly large percentage were interested in the
possibility of a club. My extremely conservative estimate of
attendance if a club were formed is a minimum of 10 members (as not
everyone who says they are interested will likely join). f. This
section of the survey was full of pleasant surprises. Again, I had
pessimistically expected a greater percentage of 'fluff' viewers, but
found that the lead was not so great. g. No comment. h. About what I
had expected.
Total (Control Group)
Total Surveyed: 47 persons
a. Male: 25
53.2%
a. Female: 22
46.8%
b. Rpg: 2
4.3%
b. Ccg: 7
14.9%
b. Anime: 15
31.9%
b. Rpg + Ccg: 2
4.3%
b. Rpg + Anime: 4
8.5%
b. Ccg + Anime: 6
12.8%
b. All 3: 11
23.3%
Analysis: This is mostly useful for finding the probability that, given
that a person participates in at least 1 Dorky and/or Nerdy activity,
they participate in any particular one (or any particular combination).
End results.]
Thus, in conclusion, and in accordance with this data collected through
my own sly planning, toil, and work, I make this suggestion to the
Student Council:
An immediate Inquisition and pogrom of all dissidents involved in the
practice of Dorky and/or Nerdy activities. It is extreme, but
necessary to keep the halls of our school safe from the spreading
plague of dorkhood.
Wait, I just realized something! I forgot the biggest Nerdiness factor
of all; a GPA above 3.5! That means the entire Student Council is
privy to these fiendish miscreants! Burn the Student Council!
Dan Riley,
Witch-hunter extraordinaire
Extra!!
Favorite Anime
1. Rurouni Kenshin
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
3. Princess Mononoke
Most Watched Anime
1. Pokemon
2. Dragonball/Dragonball Z
3. Sailor Moon
4. Speed Racer
5. Princess Mononoke
6. Akira
7. Ghost in the Shell
8. Neon Genesis Evangelion
9. Card Captors Sakura
9. Gundam
10. Rurouni Kenshin
Interesting Comments
An anime club would be rediculous get a LIFE!!
I'd join ^_^
Go for it! You are the one! We want a club!
The best! (written next to Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X)
This sucks.
Fun.
Go ahead, have fun, but I'm not interested.
What the heck is anime?
What bonafied morron wrote this last question?
Your welcome.
