LINGUIST List 2.878

Fri 27 Dec 1991

Disc: "Cognitive Linguistics" debate: survey results

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1. , Results of survey on "cognitive linguistics" debate

[Moderators' note: Following are the results of the survey that Susan
Herring conducted recently about participation in the Cognitive Linguistics
discussion on LINGUIST. We thought they'd be of interest both to the
participants and to the discourse analysts on the list--who may also wish
to know that Herring is presenting a paper on this topic in the Discourse
Analysis section of the upcoming LSA meeting. --Helen & Anthony]
	 		 Results of Survey:
Participation in LINGUIST "cognitive linguistics" debate (Feb.-March 1991),
		compiled by Susan Herring, Nov.-Dec. 1991
64 people responded to the survey; 61 by e-mail, 3 by regular mail.
Their averaged responses are summarized below:
1. What percentage of the messages on "cognitive linguistics" did you read?
	64.1%
2.a. Did you contribute to the "cognitive linguistics" discussion?
	No - 81%; Yes - 19%
 b. If not, why not?
			not interested 		 		 19.2%
			interested but too busy 	 	 15.4%
			intimidated/turned off by tone of debate 73.1%
3. At times the discussion became heated and even personal. Your reaction?
			indifferent; didn't notice		 28.1%
			amused; enjoyed it			 40.6%
			offended and/or intimidated		 68.8%
(For questions 2b and 3 above, some respondents gave more than one response;
hence percentages add up to more than 100%. Responses are roughly comparable
for male and female respondents.)
4. Have you contributed to other discussions on LINGUIST?
	No - 31.8%; Yes - 68.2%	 (of Yes responses: M = 72.5%; F = 60.9%)
RESPONDENT INFORMATION
6. Sex:
	M = 62.5%
	F = 37.5%
(The disparity in participation in the "cognitive linguistics" discussion
is even greater:
	M = 84.6%; F = 15.4%)
5. Current academic position held: Both M and F	 M	 F
	Emeritus		 	 0%
	Full Prof			27.0%		25.6	29.2
	Assoc. Prof			12.7%		15.4	 8.3
	Assist. Prof			19.0%		23.1	12.5
	Lecturer, non-tenure track	 0%
	Researcher (incl. post-doc)	11.1%	 	 7.7	16.7
	Grad Student		 	20.6%		17.9	25.0
	Undergrad		 	 1.6%	 	 0	 4.2
	Other				 7.9%		10.3	 4.2
7. Average number of years in linguistics (or related field) since receiving
 Ph.D. (for those who have completed graduate studies):
	11.35 (Both M and F)
8. Average number of courses taught (by those in teaching positions):
	Feb./March 1991	 	1.5		(M = 1.38; F = 1.81)
	per year	 	3.9		(M = 3.76; F = 4.25)
9. Principal area of specialization?
	All sub-fields of linguistics represented, plus computer science,
	engineering, and psychology.
10. Would you describe yourself as more of a formalist or a functionalist?
	formalist		34.4%		(M = 40.0%; F = 25.0%)
	functionalist		53.1%		(M = 47.5%; F = 62.5%)
	both			 4.6%		(M = 5.0%; F = 4.2%)
	neither		 	 7.8%		(M = 7.5%; F = 8.3%)
11. Average number of years using a computer:
	11.48 (both M and F)
12. How comfortable do you feel with computer technology?
	very			69.3%		(M = 74.4%; F = 60.9%)
	moderately		25.8%		(M = 25.6%; F = 26.1%)
	somewhat hesitant	 4.9%		(M = 0%; F = 13.0%)
 These data were collected as part of an ongoing study of gender and
participation in academic discourse. Many thanks to those who responded!
Direct any comments or questions to Susan Herring, herringviolet.berkeley.edu.