The Systematizing Quotient (SQ)
How systematic are you?


1. When I listen to a piece of music, I always notice the way it’s structured. strongly
agree
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agree
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disagree
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disagree
2. I adhere to common superstitions. strongly
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disagree
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3. I often make resolutions, but find it hard to stick to them. strongly
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4. I prefer to read non-fiction than fiction. strongly
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5. If I were buying a car, I would want to obtain specific information about its engine capacity. strongly
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6. When I look at a painting, I do not usually think about the technique involved in making it. strongly
agree
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7. If there was a problem with the electrical wiring in my home, I’d be able to fix it myself. strongly
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8. When I have a dream, I find it difficult to remember precise details about the dream the next day. strongly
agree
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9. When I watch a film, I prefer to be with a group of friends, rather than alone. strongly
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10. I am interested in learning about different religions. strongly
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11. I rarely read articles or web pages about new technology. strongly
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12. I do not enjoy games that involve a high degree of strategy. strongly
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13. I am fascinated by how machines work. strongly
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14. I make it a point of listening to the news each morning. strongly
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15. In maths, I am intrigued by the rules and patterns governing numbers. strongly
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16. I am bad about keeping in touch with old friends. strongly
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17. When I am relating a story, I often leave out details and just give the gist of what happened. strongly
agree
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18. I find it difficult to understand instruction manuals for putting appliances together. strongly
agree
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19. When I look at an animal, I like to know the precise species it belongs to. strongly
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20. If I were buying a computer, I would want to know exact details about its hard drive capacity and processor speed. strongly
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21. I enjoy participating in sports. strongly
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22. I try to avoid doing household chores if I can. strongly
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23. When I cook, I do not think about exactly how different methods and ingredients contribute to the final product. strongly
agree
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24. I find it difficult to read and understand maps. strongly
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25. If I had a collection (e.g. CDs, coins, stamps), it would be highly organised. strongly
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26. When I look at a piece of furniture, I do not notice the details of how it was constructed. strongly
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27. The idea of engaging in “risk-taking” activities appeals to me. strongly
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28. When I learn about historical events, I do not focus on exact dates. strongly
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29. When I read the newspaper, I am drawn to tables of information, such as football league scores or stock market indices. strongly
agree
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30. When I learn a language, I become intrigued by its grammatical rules. strongly
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disagree
31. I find it difficult to learn my way around a new city. strongly
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32. I do not tend to watch science documentaries on television or read articles about science and nature. strongly
agree
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disagree
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disagree
33. If I were buying a stereo, I would want to know about its precise technical features. strongly
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34. I find it easy to grasp exactly how odds work in betting. strongly
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35. I am not very meticulous when I carry out D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself projects) strongly
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36. I find it easy to carry on a conversation with someone I’ve just met. strongly
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37. When I look at a building, I am curious about the precise way it was constructed. strongly
agree
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38. When an election is being held, I am not interested in the results for each constituency (candidate, party, etc.). strongly
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39. When I lend someone money, I expect them to pay me back exactly what they owe me. strongly
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40. I find it difficult to understand information the bank sends me on different investment and saving systems. strongly
agree
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41. When travelling by train, I often wonder exactly how the rail networks are coordinated. strongly
agree
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42. When I buy a new appliance, I do not read the instruction manual very thoroughly. strongly
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disagree
43. If I were buying a camera, I would not look carefully into the quality of the lens. strongly
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44. When I read something, I always notice whether it is grammatically correct. strongly
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45. When I hear the weather forecast, I am not very interested in the meteorological patterns. strongly
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46. I often wonder what it would be like to be someone else. strongly
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47. I find it difficult to do two things at once. strongly
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48. When I look at a mountain, I think about how precisely it was formed. strongly
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49. I can easily visualise how the motorways (highways) in my region link up. strongly
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50. When I’m in a restaurant, I often have a hard time deciding what to order. strongly
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51. When I’m in a plane, I do not think about the aerodynamics. strongly
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52. I often forget the precise details of conversations I’ve had. strongly
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53. When I am walking in the country, I am curious about how the various kinds of trees differ. strongly
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54. After meeting someone just once or twice, I find it difficult to remember precisely what they look like. strongly
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55. I am interested in knowing the path a river takes from its source to the sea. strongly
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56. I do not read legal documents very carefully. strongly
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57. I am not interested in understanding how wireless communication works. strongly
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58. I am curious about life on other planets. strongly
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59. When I travel, I like to learn specific details about the culture of the place I am visiting. strongly
agree
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60. I do not care to know the names of the plants I see. strongly
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disagree


Your Systematizing Quotient (SQ) is


Source:
S. Baron-Cohen, J. Richler, D. Bisarya, N. Gurunathan, & and S. Wheelwright, (2003)
The Systemising Quotient (SQ) : An investigation of adults with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism and normal sex differences
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Series B, Special issue on "Autism : Mind and Brain" 358:361-374

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