Project 30: Cross-Cultural Zodiac and Personality (Chinese Zodiac Focus) #

Overview #

This project investigates statistical correlations between the Chinese Zodiac (Shengxiao) and the Big Five Personality Traits (Five Factor Model).

Using a large-scale dataset of open-source psychometric results, we analyze whether birth years associated with specific animal archetypes (Year of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, etc.) show distinct personality profiles consistent with traditional lore or generational cohorts.

Methodology #

Data Source #

• Dataset: Open-Source Psychometrics Project (OSPP) Big Five Data (BIG5_data.csv).
• Sample Size: N = 19,632 (Filtered for ages 13-90).
• Timeframe: Data collected circa 2018.

Variables #

• Chinese Zodiac Sign: Calculated cyclically based on birth year derived from Age.
  • Formula: Birth Year = 2018 - Age.
  • Sign: (Birth Year - 1900) % 12.
• Personality Traits:
  • Extroversion (E)
  • Neuroticism (N)
  • Agreeableness (A)
  • Conscientiousness (C)
  • Openness (O)

Statistical Approach #

• ANOVA (Analysis of Variance): To test for statistically significant differences in mean trait scores across the 12 zodiac groups.
• Z-Score Heatmaps: To visualize how each sign deviates from the global population average.

Key Findings (Cyclic/Generational) #

The analysis reveals highly significant statistical differences (P < 0.001) across all traits. However, because the Chinese Zodiac is a year-based cycle, these results likely conflate archetypal effects with age-cohort/generational effects.

• Conscientiousness: Peaks in Rooster years.
• Extroversion: Peaks in Dog years.
• Neuroticism: Peaks in Goat years.

See the next page (Results) for full statistical details.

Limitations #

• Cyclic vs. Generational: Since the Chinese Zodiac repeats every 12 years, separating the "Animal Sign" effect from the "Generation" effect (e.g., Gen Z vs Millennials) is difficult without longitudinal data spanning many decades.
• Data Resolution: The dataset provided Age, not full Date of Birth, preventing Western Zodiac (Sun Sign) or Vedic calculation.

Data Provenance #

Cultural Zodiac #

• Source: OpenPsychometrics / World Values Survey.
• Link: https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org