Why are we interested in the weather?
I often get asked "why are you interested in the weather?" and "why do you bother keeping records of the weather?". I realise when I'm asked that even though I'm a psychologist, I don't really know the answers to these questions, and have little idea why so many others are interested in the weather too.
Therefore I am carrying out some preliminary research into why people are interested in the weather. I'm particularly interested in why some people keep weather observations.
If you'd like to take part, all you have to do is answer the following questions. All replies will be treated strictly confidentially. I'll pool the data and any individual quotes will be anonymised. I'll post a summary of my findings when (if) I have enough data. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like in reply, or omit any questions. The more responses there are the more valid the research will be, so any information at all is valuable.
Reply by copying the questions below with your answers to me by email at:
Many thanks in advance to anyone who replies; any contribution is much appreciated. And please feel free to circulate this URL to anyone else you think might be interested.
Trevor
Professor Trevor Harley
Head of the School of Psychology, University of Dundee
Weather: http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/
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1. How long have you been interested in the weather?
2. How interested are you in the weather on a scale of 1 (not at all) through 4 (average) to 7 (completely obsessed)?
3. Why do you think you originally became interested in the weather?
4. If the reasons are different, why are you interested in the weather now?
5. For how long have you been taking serious weather observations?
6. Why do you keep weather records?
7. What, if anything, do you do with your weather records?
8. Do you have any other hobbies or interests you take as (or more) seriously as the weather?
9. Do you have any concrete examples of being obsessed with the weather or weather recordings (e.g. before I got an automatic weather station I was reluctant to stay away from home, and still don't like missing extreme events).
10. What do you like most about the weather?
11. What kind of weather do you like least?
A couple of additional things:
12. Any comments or anything you'd like to add?
13. Remember, these questions are all completely optional, but it would help me build up a picture of who is interested in the weather if you tell me:
Your nationality
Gender
Age (even approximately)
Where you live (not an address, but town or first three letters of postcode)
Would you be prepared to take part in any further research (by email) on this topic? If so write Y, otherwise I'll assume No.
No need for a name!
