Research:MDem/5.4r/0999 north-letter/survey

Some questions about science and history

What existed before kingdoms? For example, what was happening in France before the year 400, or what was happening in Japan around the year 100?
What is wrong with string theory, and what model replaced that particular error? (You can stop at one problem and approximately one sentence. Your answer does not have to be over 2 minutes long.)
What Type or Types is Pokémon number ____, and what region does it come from in the games? (You're not allowed to look it up. But if you actually have no idea what a Pokémon is you can "pass".) There will be two of these questions to better test how much you remember.
- If they ask what Pokémon that is, tell them only the Pokémon's name, then try again to see if they can get the rest of the question.
- Record any deviation from the correct answer. An incorrect name on a Pokémon counts as correct if the rest is correct. If there are two types they must give both types.
- Pick two of these Pokémon numbers at random: #981, #228, #435, #600, #956, #923
Trotskyism is a kind of Communist government. If a Trotskyist party completes a revolution, how big is a Trotskyist republic? (This is not a trick question. It's meant to be an easy question.)
- If participants get confused about what is a valid answer, use alternate phrasings:
  - If you were to draw a Trotskyist republic on a map starting at one end of either the United States or Japan, how big is it?
  - How much land area is in a Trotskyist republic, if one were to hypothetically come to exist? Assume it's possible, but will behave realistically. You do not have to assume it will remain stable for more than 30 years without disappearing.
- If you get an incorrect answer, stop. If you get an invalid answer, try again.
- Don't use leading questions like "Is it one country or multiple countries?" or "How many continents?".
- [If they give an acceptable answer, below:] How many years does it take to form a Trotskyist republic? This is an actually-difficult question, so do not be ashamed about giving the wrong answer.

Answer key

Do not reveal any of this part to participants unless they guess the answer in different words.

What is wrong with string theory?

Example answers:

"some of the 11 dimensions were replaced by the concept of quantum numbers applying to particles, such as spin or color charge"
"strings were replaced by quantum fields for various particles, which also came with correlations between different quantum fields, such as unifying electricity and magnetism into electromagnetism, or electroweak unification"
"string theory never successfully explained black holes, so it will likely be replaced with a small-scale theory specifically about spacetime (quantum gravity, an improved relativity theory, etc)"

Try to record whatever the participant said, and don't worry about judging how correct it is in the moment.

Pokémon information

#981: Farigiraf ("Farig-iraf") ; Paldea region ; Normal/Psychic types
- evolves from Girafarig ; Scarlet/Violet games, generation 9
#228: Houndour ("Hound hour") ; Kanto region (correct answer) / Johto region (technically incorrect answer) ; Dark/Fire type
- evolves into Houndoom ; Gold/Silver or HeartGold/SoulSilver, generation 2
#435: Skuntank ; Sinnoh region ; Poison/Dark type
- evolves from Stunky ; Diamond/Pearl, generation 4
#600: Klang ; Unova region / Isshu region (alternate name) ; Steel type
- evolves from Klink, evolves into Klinklang ; Black/White, generation 5
#956: Espathra ; Paldea region ; Psychic type
- evolves from Flittle ; Scarlet/Violet, generation 9
#923: Pawmot ; Paldea region ; Electric/Fighting type
- evolves from Pawmi and Pawmo ; Scarlet/Violet, generation 9

How big is a Trotskyist republic?

Acceptable answers may include: "the world" "several countries" "14 countries" "3 countries" "North America" "Eurasia" "every industrial country" "the entire area taken up by the world proletariat" "how vast is the proletariat?" "every country that became a kingdom put together" "every continent but Antarctica" "every Third World country and then First World countries"
Incorrect answers: "as big as the country that formed it" "smaller than the country that formed it" "Australia" (edge case, but I'm pretty sure that when it already is one country it doesn't count) "every First World country" (I'd have given that a pass last week but now I know it's wrong)
Invalid answers, ask question again: "impossible to know" "it will never happen" "the size of an ineffective party" "one person" "it depends on which continent" (make them start from the US, Europe, or India) "Stalin made it impossible" "anarchists will destroy it"