Preliminaries

This is a survey HIT, so please do not complete more than one, including if you took one of the similar HITs titled "Survey on Fighting Game Characters" previously.

If you already took this survey as part of a previous batch (or a similar survey as part of the pilot study), please return this HIT; your submission will be rejected.

If you're not sure whether you participated in an earlier batch, feel free to get in touch via email.

To avoid rejection, you need to do 2 things:

  1. Answer every question to the best of your ability
    (there are no right answers, just don't leave anything blank or pick at random).
  2. Confirm your age and consent in the text box below.

This HIT is part of an MIT scientific research project, and should take about 25–35 minutes to complete (there are 135 survey questions plus 14 exit questions). Your decision to complete this HIT is voluntary. We will not collect identifying information about you beyond your worker ID, which we will not retain in stored copies of the data that we gather. The only information we will have, in addition to your responses, is the time at which you completed the survey. The results of the research may be presented at scientific meetings or published in scientific journals. Clicking on the 'SUBMIT' button at the bottom of this page indicates that you are at least 18 years of age and agree to complete this HIT voluntarily.

You may only complete one HIT from this survey. If you complete multiple HITs from this survey, your subsequent HITs will be rejected.

To provide useful data for this survey, you must be at least 18 years old and able to read English and clearly view the images on this page. If you don't meet these criterion, please click 'Return HIT' to avoid being rejected.

To confirm that you meet these criteria, and consent to the use of your data, please write the word "yes" in the box below.

Survey Instructions

You will be presented with five fighting game characters, including three images, a country, a quote, and a short bio for each character. Please indicate your agreement (or disagreement) with each of the statements listed for each character using the following scale (the 25 statements are the same for each character, and the scale is repeated throughout the survey for reference):

  1. Strongly disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Somewhat disagree
  4. Neutral
  5. Somewhat agree
  6. Agree
  7. Strongly agree

Make sure you also answer the final exit questions after completing all 5 character sections, and remember that your answers are anonymous and will be used for scientific purposes only. This survey should take you about 25–35 minutes to complete.

Note: Each question will change color once you provide an answer to help make it obvious what you've already finished. There are no right or wrong answers.

Ibuki on the character select screen. Official art of Ibuki. Ibuki in-game.
Ibuki
Country:Japan
Quote:“I will finish this in no time!”
Description:First appearing in Street Fighter III: New Generation, Ibuki is a Japanese kunoichi and highschool student. She finds her ninja training tedious, preferring to slack off with her pet racoon dog, Don-chan.
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Ibuki has a realistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki has an exaggerated or unrealistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
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7
Ibuki is designed to appear attractive.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Ibuki is designed to appear ugly.
1
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3
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5
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7
Ibuki's design emphasizes Ibuki's muscles.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Ibuki's muscles are hidden or not-well-defined.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's design emphasizes Ibuki's sex appeal.
1
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3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki is not designed to be sexually appealing (to anyone).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Ibuki is designed to appear overweight.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki is designed to appear thin/skinny.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's design emphasizes Ibuki's youth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's design emphasizes Ibuki's old age.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's clothing is designed to increase Ibuki's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's clothing does not emphasize Ibuki's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's clothing is something that someone might wear in real life.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's clothing is something that nobody would wear in real life.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Ibuki could be a good role-model.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki is someone that nobody should aspire to be like.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's appearance, quote, and/or description makes Ibuki's race/ethnicity clear.
1
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4
5
6
7
Ibuki's clothing alone suggests Ibuki's race/ethnicity.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki is a positive representation of Ibuki's racial/ethnic group.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's design encourages misleading assumptions about people from Ibuki's racial/ethnic group.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki is a positive representation of women.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Ibuki's design encourages misleading assumptions about women.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Ibuki is similar to me.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
My race/ethnicity is similar to Ibuki's.
1
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3
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5
6
7
I am very familiar with Ibuki's racial/ethnic group.
1
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3
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5
6
7
Urien on the character select screen. Official art of Urien. Urien in-game.
Urien
Country:Unknown
Quote:“Don't worry. I'll end you quickly.”
Description:First introduced in Street Fighter III: Second Impact, Urien is the vice president of the Illuminati. Unlike his benevolent brother, this self-serving tyrant is only interested in furthering his own interests.
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Urien has a realistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien has an exaggerated or unrealistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien is designed to appear attractive.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien is designed to appear ugly.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Urien's design emphasizes Urien's muscles.
1
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4
5
6
7
Urien's muscles are hidden or not-well-defined.
1
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3
4
5
6
7
Urien's design emphasizes Urien's sex appeal.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Urien is not designed to be sexually appealing (to anyone).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Urien is designed to appear overweight.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien is designed to appear thin/skinny.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's design emphasizes Urien's youth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's design emphasizes Urien's old age.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's clothing is designed to increase Urien's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's clothing does not emphasize Urien's sex appeal.
1
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3
4
5
6
7
Urien's clothing is something that someone might wear in real life.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's clothing is something that nobody would wear in real life.
1
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3
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5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Urien could be a good role-model.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien is someone that nobody should aspire to be like.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Urien's appearance, quote, and/or description makes Urien's race/ethnicity clear.
1
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5
6
7
Urien's clothing alone suggests Urien's race/ethnicity.
1
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6
7
Urien is a positive representation of Urien's racial/ethnic group.
1
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6
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Urien's design encourages misleading assumptions about people from Urien's racial/ethnic group.
1
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Urien is a positive representation of men.
1
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Urien's design encourages misleading assumptions about men.
1
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6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Urien is similar to me.
1
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My race/ethnicity is similar to Urien's.
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I am very familiar with Urien's racial/ethnic group.
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Paul on the character select screen. Official art of Paul. Paul in-game.
Paul Phoenix
Country:United States of America
Quote:“I'll show you the power of the strongest in the universe… but not for free!”
Description:When Paul Phoenix, the golden boy of the martial arts world, steps into the ring, the excitement in the crowd is palpable. But this time when his opponent's name rang over the arena's loudspeakers, he could only scratch his head in disbelief. It was Kuma… again! However, Kuma was nowhere to be seen. Word went round that the bear had dropped out of the tournament. The ring announcer informed the spectators of a last-minute change to the fight card. Relieved, Paul awaits the entrance of his long-anticipated human opponent…
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Paul has a realistic body.
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7
Paul has an exaggerated or unrealistic body.
1
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7
Paul is designed to appear attractive.
1
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7
Paul is designed to appear ugly.
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7
Paul's design emphasizes Paul's muscles.
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7
Paul's muscles are hidden or not-well-defined.
1
2
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6
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Paul's design emphasizes Paul's sex appeal.
1
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6
7
Paul is not designed to be sexually appealing (to anyone).
1
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4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Paul is designed to appear overweight.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Paul is designed to appear thin/skinny.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Paul's design emphasizes Paul's youth.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Paul's design emphasizes Paul's old age.
1
2
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4
5
6
7
Paul's clothing is designed to increase Paul's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Paul's clothing does not emphasize Paul's sex appeal.
1
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5
6
7
Paul's clothing is something that someone might wear in real life.
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6
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Paul's clothing is something that nobody would wear in real life.
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Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Paul could be a good role-model.
1
2
3
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Paul is someone that nobody should aspire to be like.
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Paul's appearance, quote, and/or description makes Paul's race/ethnicity clear.
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Paul's clothing alone suggests Paul's race/ethnicity.
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Paul is a positive representation of Paul's racial/ethnic group.
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Paul's design encourages misleading assumptions about people from Paul's racial/ethnic group.
1
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Paul is a positive representation of men.
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5
6
7
Paul's design encourages misleading assumptions about men.
1
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5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Paul is similar to me.
1
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3
4
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7
My race/ethnicity is similar to Paul's.
1
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I am very familiar with Paul's racial/ethnic group.
1
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Eddy on the character select screen. Official art of Eddy. Eddy in-game.
Eddy Gordo
Country:Brazil
Quote:“Don't think I'll go easy on you.”
Description:Eddy Gordo went to G Corporation to exact revenge on Kazuya Mishima for murdering his father. After he'd taken out a crowd of guards, a young girl in a strange outfit stood before him, and struck a pose. 'You're not getting past me, old man! Teehee!' What did she mean by 'old man'? Confused and irritated by her appearance and disrespectful tone, but aware of the threat she posed, Eddy prepared to fight.
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Eddy has a realistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy has an exaggerated or unrealistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy is designed to appear attractive.
1
2
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5
6
7
Eddy is designed to appear ugly.
1
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3
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6
7
Eddy's design emphasizes Eddy's muscles.
1
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7
Eddy's muscles are hidden or not-well-defined.
1
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5
6
7
Eddy's design emphasizes Eddy's sex appeal.
1
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5
6
7
Eddy is not designed to be sexually appealing (to anyone).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Eddy is designed to appear overweight.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy is designed to appear thin/skinny.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's design emphasizes Eddy's youth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's design emphasizes Eddy's old age.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's clothing is designed to increase Eddy's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's clothing does not emphasize Eddy's sex appeal.
1
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3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's clothing is something that someone might wear in real life.
1
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3
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5
6
7
Eddy's clothing is something that nobody would wear in real life.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Eddy could be a good role-model.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Eddy is someone that nobody should aspire to be like.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's appearance, quote, and/or description makes Eddy's race/ethnicity clear.
1
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6
7
Eddy's clothing alone suggests Eddy's race/ethnicity.
1
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5
6
7
Eddy is a positive representation of Eddy's racial/ethnic group.
1
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5
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Eddy's design encourages misleading assumptions about people from Eddy's racial/ethnic group.
1
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3
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5
6
7
Eddy is a positive representation of men.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Eddy's design encourages misleading assumptions about men.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Eddy is similar to me.
1
2
3
4
5
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7
My race/ethnicity is similar to Eddy's.
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5
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I am very familiar with Eddy's racial/ethnic group.
1
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5
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7
Hwoarang on the character select screen. Official art of Hwoarang. Hwoarang in-game.
Hwoarang
Country:South Korea
Quote:“Come at me! I'll take you down.”
Description:Hwoarang sees one man as his rival: Jin Kazama. Jin, CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu, declared war against the world, and in the ensuing turmoil vanished suddenly, without a trace. Suspecting there is more to Jin's disappearance than meets the eye, Hwoarang vowed to track him down. With only a shred of reliable information at hand, he headed to the Middle East. After a series of dead leads, Hwoarang heard word that a demon had appeared in a town. Without a second thought, he got on his motorcycle and hammered down there. When he arrived, the place had been deserted, save for Jin Kazama in his devil form.
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Hwoarang has a realistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang has an exaggerated or unrealistic body.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is designed to appear attractive.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is designed to appear ugly.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design emphasizes Hwoarang's muscles.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's muscles are hidden or not-well-defined.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design emphasizes Hwoarang's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is not designed to be sexually appealing (to anyone).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Hwoarang is designed to appear overweight.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is designed to appear thin/skinny.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design emphasizes Hwoarang's youth.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design emphasizes Hwoarang's old age.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's clothing is designed to increase Hwoarang's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's clothing does not emphasize Hwoarang's sex appeal.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's clothing is something that someone might wear in real life.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's clothing is something that nobody would wear in real life.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Hwoarang could be a good role-model.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is someone that nobody should aspire to be like.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's appearance, quote, and/or description makes Hwoarang's race/ethnicity clear.
1
2
3
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5
6
7
Hwoarang's clothing alone suggests Hwoarang's race/ethnicity.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is a positive representation of Hwoarang's racial/ethnic group.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design encourages misleading assumptions about people from Hwoarang's racial/ethnic group.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang is a positive representation of men.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Hwoarang's design encourages misleading assumptions about men.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Neutral Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Hwoarang is similar to me.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
My race/ethnicity is similar to Hwoarang's.
1
2
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5
6
7
I am very familiar with Hwoarang's racial/ethnic group.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Exit Questions

Thank you for helping us understand more about the character design in fighting games.

In order to better contextualize your responses, please answer the following questions about your background and gaming experience:

Have you played "Street Fighter V" or "Tekken 7" before?
Yes, both.
Yes, just "Street Fighter V."
Yes, just "Tekken 7."
No, neither.
Have you played other Street Fighter or Tekken games before?
Yes, games from both franchises.
Yes, just (a) Street Fighter game(s).
Yes, just (a) Tekken game(s).
No, neither franchise.
Have you played other fighting games before?
Yes
No
Have you played any other videogames before?
Yes
No
How often do you play videogames?
Almost every day.
At least once per week.
At least once per month.
Less than once per month.
I don't play videogames.
Have you watched other people play Street Fighter or Tekken games before?
Yes, often
Yes, occasionally
No
Have you watched other people play any other fighting games before?
Yes, often
Yes, occasionally
No
How old are you?
18–24 years old
25–34 years old
35–44 years old
45–54 years old
55–64 years old
65–74 years old
75 years old or older
What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
None of the below
Primary school (8th grade)
Some high school (no diploma)
High school (or equivalent, e.g., GED)
Some college (no degree)
Trade/technical/vocational training
Associate degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctorate degree
What language(s) do you use for everyday conversation in your community, home, school, and/or workplace? (please list in order of frequency of use)
Language 1:
Language 2:
Language 3:
Additional language(s):
What is your gender?
What racial/ethnic group(s) do you consider yourself a part of?
(Be as specific as possible, and list multiple if appropriate.)
What is your nationality?
(optional) Do you have any other feedback about the content of this survey? Were there any questions that were particularly difficult to answer or that didn't seem to make sense? Were the instructions confusing or contradictory?
The End

Reminder: Did you fill out the consent text box at the beginning of the survey? If not, your HIT may be rejected!

Thanks for taking the time to fill out our survey. If you have further questions about the survey or are interested in the results once they are available, you can contact the study coordinator at: pmawhorter@gmail.com.