The first option is most salient, by virtue of being first. Level 0 players will tend to choose option 1. Level 1 players will realize that this is what level 0 players will do, so they will tend to choose option 2 (“the first one”). Level 2 players will realize that this is what level 1 players will do, so they will tend to choose option 4 (“the second one”). Level 3 players will realize that this is what level 2 players will do, so they will tend to choose option 5 (“the fourth one”). Apparently there are lots of level 1 & 2 players, but very few level 3 players.
That hypothesis predicts that the most common responses on the LW poll would be the level 1 response, #4 “the first one”, and the level 2 response, #5 “the fourth one”. The data provide partial confirmation of this hypothesis; in terms of levels the most common responses to the LW poll were:
32% Level 1 (#4 “the first one”) 21% Level 0 (#1 “the third one”) 18% Level 2 (#5 “the fourth one”) 15% Level 3 (#2 “the fifth one”) 14% Level 4 (#3 “the second one”)
And for the gamefaqs poll: 26% Level 2 (#4 “the second one”) 24% Level 1 (#2 “the first one”) 21% Level 4 (#3 “the last one”) 17% Level 0 (#1 “the third one”) 11% Level 3 (#5 “the fourth one”)
After one month and 120 responses, I’m considering this poll closed. The results are:
1) The third one: 21%
2) The fifth one: 15%
3) The second one: 14%
4) The first one: 32%
5) The fourth one: 18%
A chi-squared test says that these results are non-uniform, with a p-value of 0.02.
The correct answer, #5 “the fourth one”, was chosen by 18% of respondents. The most common answer was #4, “the first one”.
This poll idea was taken from a gamefaqs poll which was linked on LW last year. The results of that poll (which had a much larger sample size) were:
1) The third one: 17%
2) The first one: 24%
3) The last one: 21%
4) The second one: 26%
5) The fourth one: 11%
My hypothesis about that poll was:
That hypothesis predicts that the most common responses on the LW poll would be the level 1 response, #4 “the first one”, and the level 2 response, #5 “the fourth one”. The data provide partial confirmation of this hypothesis; in terms of levels the most common responses to the LW poll were:
32% Level 1 (#4 “the first one”)
21% Level 0 (#1 “the third one”)
18% Level 2 (#5 “the fourth one”)
15% Level 3 (#2 “the fifth one”)
14% Level 4 (#3 “the second one”)
And for the gamefaqs poll:
26% Level 2 (#4 “the second one”)
24% Level 1 (#2 “the first one”)
21% Level 4 (#3 “the last one”)
17% Level 0 (#1 “the third one”)
11% Level 3 (#5 “the fourth one”)