Will Amy Shields Defend Her Title In “How Well Do You Know Americans?” Play The Blog Version Of “Power Of Plus Or Minus 10″ And Find Out. ( *** CONTEST CLOSED! ***)
The contest is now closed. You can still take the survey to see how you fare, but there will be no prize. Click here to see the winners and check the right answers.
Six months ago, Amy Shields beat Dan Womack by only 13 points in this contest. Amy crushed most of the other contestants to gain her first title in How Well Do You Know Americans? "Power Of Plus or Minus 10″– the blog version of a popular game show where contestants try to accurately predict the respondent base’s answers to intriguing poll questions.
Today Amy, Dan and others (I hope) will try and play a second round of Power of Plus or Minus 10. On one popular game show, the winner gets 10 million dollars — sorry but that won’t be happening here. However, we will have a few lesser prizes for the top two people — assuming we get over fifty responses.
In case you’re not familiar with the Power of Plus or Minus 10, a few months ago, M/A/R/C Research interviewed 5,800 Americans between the ages of 18 and 65. We built a database of their answers, and it will be your challenge to see if you can guess how our respondents answered the questions.
The way this will work is this: Please click on the link below and answer the 7 questions in our little survey. We will total your answers and when we post your response, we will tell you how far away you were. It doesn’t matter if you are over or under the total. The top two people who are the closest in total to the seven questions will be the winners.
Click here to take the survey.
One change this time is that all M/A/R/C Employees can participate except myself, TA and anyone on our internal team who has seen the answers.
Look for the right answers and winners to be posted on May 19. Remember…the lower the score, the better.
Good luck to all!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Total Score: 152
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Total Score: 103
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Total Score: 102
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Total Score: 70
Comment
Boy, I’m terrible at this…but I keep doing it because it’s fun. Thanks, Merrill!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 98
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 164
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 204
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 107
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 197
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 125
Comment
very fun! i am not sure my deductive reasoning skills are as sharp as they should be…
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Total Score: 131
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Lisa,
You need to sit down. You score of 70 wasn’t terrible at all in fact the winning score of the last contest was 71.
You may just end up winning - nice job!
Merrill
May 7th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Total Score: 139
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Total Score: 138
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Total Score: 122
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Total Score: 127
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Total Score: 145
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Total Score: 142
Comment
It was fun!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Total Score: 107
Comment
It was fun…. I am consistent I would like to get less than 100 keep ‘em comin’
May 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Total Score: 119
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Total Score: 150
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Total Score: 187
Comment
Great fun!!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Total Score: 89
Comment
Interesting. When do we get to see the actual percentages?
May 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Total Score: 128
Comment
Oops. I thought the question was about how many people cried when they saw MY haircut. Hey, bad hair happens when you switch from a motorcycle helmet to a cowboy hat
May 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Total Score: 91
Comment
I did better than the last time! It will be interesting to see the actual answers. GO AMY!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Total Score: 97
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Total Score: 110
Comment
Darn it! Looks like the title will go to someone else. Good luck to all!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Total Score: 157
Comment
It was great.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Total Score: 130
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Total Score: 159
Comment
interested in the results
May 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Total Score: 124
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Total Score: 138
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Total Score: 151
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Total Score: 232
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Total Score: 197
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Total Score: 128
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Total Score: 175
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Total Score: 140
Comment
Ew gads, 140?!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Total Score: 130
Comment
Fun. Really random questions
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Amy,
As defending champ a 110 isn’t bad at all. Even though you won’t be in the top 10 not a bad showing.
Thanks.
Merrill
May 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Total Score: 70
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Total Score: 187
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Total Score: 132
Comment
132… Darn. Not nearly as good as last time!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Total Score: 113
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Total Score: 109
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Total Score: 117
Comment
Too bad this wasn’t my IQ score!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Total Score: 224
Comment
I flew in a hot air balloon and it was one of the best days of my life. Everyone should try it!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thank you Carla for having a worse score than me!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Total Score: 106
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Total Score: 208
Comment
fun to do
May 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Total Score: 114
Comment
I’m not afraid of snakes but am afraid of motorcycles, bad haircuts and people who read their horoscopes!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Total Score: 204
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Total Score: 71
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Total Score: 58
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Total Score: 183
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Total Score: 176
Comment
Lots of fun.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Total Score: 134
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Total Score: 69
Comment
May 7th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Dan,
Only 132! Last time you kicked some butt. No second place finish this time.
Hope all is well.
Merrill
May 7th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Total Score: 173
Comment
Stressful- you don’t want to get things wrong, but, you are just guessing. It was difficult!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Total Score: 205
Comment
Wasn’t sure if it was weighted by US populations statistics so it was tough to guess. However, even that can’t explain a score as bad as mine
May 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Total Score: 129
Comment
Fun! Personally, I based my responses on the people that i know, so it will be interesting to see how that compares nationally.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Total Score: 147
Comment
Good Stuff
May 8th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Stacey,
I think since Paul beat you in the contest you need to cook dinner for a week and take out the trash for a month!
Hope all is well.
Merrill
May 8th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Total Score: 183
Comment
Well at least I did better than Carla and Yanqui fan Jeffrey
May 8th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Total Score: 119
Comment
It was fun
May 8th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Total Score: 74
Comment
Really had to just guess.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Total Score: 138
Comment
May 8th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Total Score: 109
Comment
It was interesting as I had no clue
May 8th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Total Score: 57
Comment
Proof positive that I could never be a moderator!
May 8th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Total Score: 104
Comment
May 8th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Malcolm,
Nice job - so far you have the lowest score! Lets see if it holds.
Good luck.
Merrill
May 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Total Score: 126
Comment
May 9th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Total Score: 149
Comment
May 9th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Total Score: 78
Comment
May 9th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Total Score: 125
Comment
Fun
May 9th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Total Score: 137
Comment
May 9th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Total Score: 179
Comment
efwsf
May 9th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Total Score: 113
Comment
May 9th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Total Score: 222
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Total Score: 176
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Total Score: 142
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Total Score: 85
Comment
fun
May 10th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Total Score: 115
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Total Score: 198
Comment
I can’t imagine 198 is good
May 10th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Total Score: 135
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Total Score: 181
Comment
ok
May 10th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Total Score: 118
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Total Score: 124
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Total Score: 147
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Total Score: 142
Comment
It was fun. The questions are of broad, general interest which makes it kind of intriguing. I also liked that it was simple and short.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Total Score: 74
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Total Score: 142
Comment
Very interesting. Would like to know the correct answers.
May 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Total Score: 226
Comment
Hmm - so what are the answers?
May 10th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Total Score: 101
Comment
interesting
May 10th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Total Score: 133
Comment
May 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Total Score: 192
Comment
Too broad.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Total Score: 177
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Total Score: 187
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Total Score: 183
Comment
for me, i have done most tho never cried at a bad haircut but as i lose my hair-being a qualitative, not quant guy - does crying over that count? i am new to mrga but in industry ~20 yrs so hello to
May 11th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Total Score: 127
Comment
Really funny. It breaks down assumptions. Looking foeward to an European version…
May 11th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Total Score: 114
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Total Score: 69
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Total Score: 152
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Total Score: 118
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Total Score: 211
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Total Score: 159
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Total Score: 149
Comment
May 11th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Total Score: 175
Comment
It was interesting.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Total Score: 192
Comment
For an Italian living in Italy like me it’s difficult not to fall in common places on Americans…
May 12th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Total Score: 109
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 6:51 am
David,
Thanks for your comments and idea. We actually have a quiz on how well do you know people and culture from other countries that will be on the blog in early June.
Thanks again.
Merrill
May 12th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Mark,
Thanks for playing - the answers and scoreboard will be on the blog May 19.
Merrill
May 12th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Total Score: 96
Comment
Interesting - how do we find the answers to each question?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Total Score: 99
Comment
Under 100…cant wait to see the results!
May 12th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Total Score: 119
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Total Score: 143
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Total Score: 182
Comment
interesting range of esoterica; curious to learn the real answers
May 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Total Score: 145
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Total Score: 131
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Total Score: 181
Comment
Fun
May 12th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Total Score: 161
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Total Score: 120
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Total Score: 146
Comment
I’m not sure what to think and I have no idea what the score means. Is it out of 1000?
May 12th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Total Score: 115
Comment
It was fun…and challenging to not try to google research the topics and just go with your gut!
May 12th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Total Score: 126
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Total Score: 168
Comment
Lots of fun
May 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Total Score: 224
Comment
WooHoo! I think I did pretty good!
May 12th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Total Score: 166
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Total Score: 149
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Total Score: 102
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Total Score: 123
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Total Score: 198
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Total Score: 143
Comment
It would be interesting to see the actual results!
May 12th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Total Score: 179
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Total Score: 204
Comment
It’s difficult to account for customs and trends in different parts of the country. I think, in retrospect, that my guestimates are way off base.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Total Score: 143
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Total Score: 188
Comment
Fun stuff!
May 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Total Score: 202
Comment
Interesting to think about how you compare (or don’t) with the masses.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Total Score: 146
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Total Score: 107
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Total Score: 171
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Total Score: 104
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Total Score: 72
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Total Score: 122
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Total Score: 107
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Total Score: 101
Comment
May 12th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Total Score: 191
Comment
Well it seems the people I surround myself with are not the norm! Would love to see the actual results..
May 13th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Total Score: 123
Comment
May 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Total Score: 149
Comment
A fun way to spend a few minutes
May 13th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Total Score: 165
Comment
fun and provocative
May 13th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Total Score: 102
Comment
fun… wonder if my score was good or bad
May 13th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Total Score: 117
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Deanna your score was 102…… Only 15 people have had a score under 100. Nice job.
Hope you enjoyed the survey.
Merrill
May 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Total Score: 165
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Total Score: 145
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Total Score: 104
May 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Total Score: 229
Comment
Ouch!
May 14th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Total Score: 156
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
158 - yikes - i no longer trust incidence tests by way of instant messenger!
May 14th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Total Score: 183
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Total Score: 179
Comment
silly americans
May 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Total Score: 187
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Total Score: 168
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Total Score: 129
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Total Score: 136
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Total Score: 204
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Total Score: 154
Comment
May 14th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Total Score: 196
Comment
booo!
May 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Total Score: 76
Comment
May 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Total Score: 162
Comment
May 15th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Abbie,
Great score! You are the only person out of the last 27 people who have been under a 100!
Nice job.
Merrill
May 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Total Score: 158
Comment
May 15th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Total Score: 207
Comment
May 16th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Total Score: 111
Comment
May 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Total Score: 262
Comment
Very Interesting
May 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Total Score: 137
Comment
May 19th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Total Score: 46
Comment
May 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Kevin,
CONGRADS! With your 46 you crushed the previous low of 57 by Malcolm Williamson.
I am impressed!
Nice job.
Merrill
May 19th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Total Score: 160
Comment
It was rigged!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Total Score: 90
Comment
I thought it was really cool - it reminds me of that game show.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Total Score: 103
Comment
May 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
WOW - 166 people entered the contest - twice as many as last year.
We hope everyone enjoyed playing. Congratulations to Kevin Robertson for winning the contest and the $100 first prize American Express Gift Certificate with an amazing score of 46. Malcolm Williamson was second with a score of 57 and will receive a $50 American Express gift certificate.
The average score was 143 and the hardest question was the one about how many people have ever ridden a horse - the average person was 35 away…..
The final answers and individual scores are all posted on the site.
Thanks for playing.
Merrill
May 21st, 2008 at 4:28 am
Merrill,
the experiment was interesting and amusing at the same time, thanks!!!
I would be curious of knowing more about the survey methodology if you have details.
No. of respondents & age we know, but how & where were the interviews taken? (On line, by phone, on street? In large or small Cities, in city centres or suburbs, in holiday locations?). My feeling was that the results were not a real mirror for “the mass” but I could be wrong, I’m not American after all…
Cheers,
Silvana
May 21st, 2008 at 7:12 am
Silvana,
Thanks for the email. happy to answer your question. M/A/R/C Research interviewed 5,800 Americans online between the ages of 18 and 65.
Hope that helps.
Merrill