Does Name Influence Personality Type?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this experiment was to determine if there is a correlation between a person#s first name and their personality type (introvert or extrovert). The hypothesis was that people with unusual first names would have an extroverted personality type and people with common first names would have an introverted personality type. Methods/Materials A survey was given to 121 high school students. The survey, which was based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Inventory, was used to determine if students# personalities were introverted or extroverted. Other information gathered was each student#s first name and birth year. Common names were defined as names being in the top 20 of the students given birth year. Unusual names were defined as names being below the top 100 of the students given birth year. After dividing students by personality type (introverted, extroverted and undetermined) and name types (common, unusual and undetermined) they were tested to see if there was any correlation between the two. Results Of the 121 students surveyed, there were 32 students with common first names (as determined by the top 20 names in the students birth year on the Social Security website). Of these 32 students with common first names, 76% identified themselves as introverts, 20% as extroverts and 4% were undetermined (had an equal number of true and false statements on the inventory). There were 29 students with undetermined names (number 21-99 names on the Social Security website). Of these 29 students 56% identified themselves as introverts, 39% extroverts and 5% undetermined. There were 60 students with unusual first names (as determined by being below the top 100 names of the students birth year on the Social Security website). Of these 60 students, 62% identified themselves as introverts, 25% as extroverts and 13% were undetermined personality types. Conclusions/Discussion The data compiled showed no clear correlation between a person's name and personality type. The population of students tested had a high percentage of introverted personality types at 70%; 29% were extroverted and 1% were undetermined personality types. In addition, a high percentage of students had unusual first names at 50%. Twenty-six percent of the students had commom names and 24% were in the undetermined group. If this inventory were given to a wider population of people the conlusion of this experiment may change.

Awards (1)

• Honorable Mention

Competition history

• CSEF 2012 Behavioral & Social Sciences · Entry J0498

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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