Unsubstantiated Beliefs among Beginning Psychology Students: 1925,1952,1983

Abstract

Nixon's (1925) questionnaire involving unsubstantiated beliefs (superstitions) among American beginning psychology students—partially replicated by Levitt (1952)—was completed by a group of Australian, Bachelor of Arts, students, beginning their study of psychology. The mean percentage of superstition per item was reported by Nixon to be 30.4% with Levitt claiming that 25 years or so later it had dropped to 6.5% (figures for males only). In the present sample, however, the level of superstition was 21.0%.