Those of you who follow my blog know one of my favorite playgrounds is the Costco store in Carson City. I do sophisticated research funded by my alma mater, The Hiram Scott College. If you wish to fund this vital work, I only take cash delivered in black waterproof garbage bags and dropped off under the huge sycamore tree entering Franktown Road in Washoe Valley.
INTRODUCTION
The study was to determine whether shoppers would stop and help a strange man find his wife in a busy Costco store (POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE) or ignore and/or ridicule him for his behavior (NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTE).
METHOD
The study had a simple but exceptional design. Wearing a dark blue tuxedo and a frightened look on my face, I approached shoppers and asked, “Have you seen my wife? Can you help me find her?”
RESULTS
With a significant N size of 6, here were the responses:
“Do I know her? Do you have a photo?”
“Is she dressed as sweet as you are, honey?”
“What is she shopping for? She will be in that section.”
“Don’t worry. We will find her. I’ll check the women’s bathroom.”
“Where can you go in Carson City wearing a blue tux?”
These raw data prove that Costco shoppers in Carson City are chuck full of POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES.
DISCUSSION
Stop fretting about the future. Americans are made of the right stuff.
Nigel J. Wiggins and me too