DOSPERT Norms

Old DOSPERT Norms

We ran a series of norming analyses with a sample of 3,124 (50% female) participants with an age range of 18-77 years (M = 36, Median = 33) who live in the United States. We conducted multiple regressions to test the relationship between demographic variables and average risk behavior for each of the five domains. Risk-behavior was determined by calculating the average score of responses for each domain. Results for the five domains are further explored below.

Financial

• Age had a negative relationship to financial risk-taking, such that older participants tended to be less financially risky, and women were less financially risky than men. 

• Education and income were also significant predictors of financial risk behavior, where those who had higher incomes and were more educated tended to take more financial risks. 

• Republicans and Democrats do not differ in their risk-taking responses, while participants that identified as Independent engaged significantly more (p<.01) financial risk-taking.

• Black/African American respondents had higher average responses than White participants, while members of other racial groups did not significantly differ from White participants in their risk-taking preferences. 

Social 

• Age and gender were also significant predictors of social risk-taking, where older participants and women are significantly more likely to engage in socially risky behavior than younger people and men. 

• Republicans reported higher risk-taking preferences than Democrats, but no significant differences between Independent and Democrat participant were found. 

• Asian participants also reported significantly lower risk-taking compared to White participants. 

Health & Safety

• Younger people, men, and those who reported lower levels of education tended to engage in riskier health & safety behaviors. 

• Political affiliation and race were also significant predictors such that self-identified Independents indicated a higher likelihood of taking health and safety risks.

• Asian participants indicated a lower likelihood of taking these risks. 

Recreational 

• Younger participants and men indicated a higher propensity of risk-taking. 

• More educated participants scored higher on recreational risk-taking.

• Black/African American participants were less risky than White participants. 

Ethical

• Men and younger participants were more likely to be ethically risky.

• Republicans were less likely to be ethically risky as compared to Democrats. 

• Hawaiian/Pacific Islander participants reported being more ethically risky than White participants.