Higher Code Commits Predicts Slightly Lower Fear for Population
Contents

Variables

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Code Commits 1808
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Fear 1115

Categories

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Goals 126
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Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

Low Confidence
Weak Effect Size
Negative Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 33.6% average decrease in Fear following above average Code Commits.
Abstract

Abstract

Fear was generally 15.267% lower than average after 20.7 event of Code Commits per 7 days.

Aggregated data from 4 study participants suggests with a LOW degree of confidence (p=0.143, 95% CI -0.551 to 0.065) that Code Commits has a weakly negative predictive relationship (R=-0.243) with Fear.

The highest quartile of Fear measurements were observed following an average 9.51 event Code Commits per day.

The lowest quartile of Fear measurements were observed following an average 19.8 event of Code Commits per day.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Fear is typically 14% lower than average over the 7 days following around 19.8 event Code Commits.

Objective

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Code Commits and Fear. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Code Commits values most likely to produce optimal Fear values.
Participant Instructions

Participant Instructions

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Code Commits here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .

Code Commits Automatic Import of Code Commits via GitHub

A Get GitHub here and use it to record your Code Commits. Then, A import your data here .


Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Fear here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .

Design

Design

This study is based on data donated by 4 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 4 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

Data Analysis

Data Analysis

Code Commits Pre-Processing

Code Commits measurement values below 0 event were assumed erroneous and removed. No maximum allowed measurement value was defined for Code Commits. It was assumed that any gaps in Code Commits data were unrecorded 0 event measurement values.

Fear Pre-Processing

Fear measurement values below 1 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. Fear measurement values above 5 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Fear so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Predictive Analytics

It was assumed that 0 seconds would pass before a change in Code Commits would produce an observable change in Fear.

It was assumed that Code Commits could produce an observable change in Fear for as much as 7 days after the stimulus event.

Statistical Significance

Statistical Significance

Using a two-tailed t-test with alpha = 0.05, it was determined that the change in Fear is statistically significant at 95% confidence interval.

After treatment, a 33.6% decrease (-0.25 out of 5) from the mean baseline 1.53 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 39.067%. The observed change was 0.49323 times the standard deviation.

A common rule of thumb considers a change greater than twice the baseline standard deviation on two separate pre-post experiments may be considered significant. This occurrence would have only a 5% likelihood of resulting from random fluctuation (a p-value < 0.05).

Data Sources

Data Sources

Code Commits data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Fear data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Limitations

Limitations

As with any human experiment, it was impossible to control for all potentially confounding variables. Correlation does not necessarily imply causation. We can never know for sure if one factor is definitely the cause of an outcome. However, lack of correlation definitely implies the lack of a causal relationship. Hence, we can with great confidence rule out non-existent relationships. For instance, if we discover no relationship between mood and an antidepressant this information is just as or even more valuable than the discovery that there is a relationship.

We can also take advantage of several characteristics of time series data from many subjects to infer the likelihood of a causal relationship if we do find a correlational relationship. The criteria for causation are a group of minimal conditions necessary to provide adequate evidence of a causal relationship between an incidence and a possible consequence.

Criteria For Causal Inference

Strength (A.K.A. Effect Size)

A small association does not mean that there is not a causal effect, though the larger the association, the more likely that it is causal. There is a weakly negative (R = -0.2431) relationship between Code Commits and Fear.

Consistency (A.K.A. Reproducibility)

Consistent findings observed by different persons in different places with different samples strengthens the likelihood of an effect. Furthermore, in accordance with the law of large numbers (LLN), the predictive power and accuracy of these results will continually grow over time. 52 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Code Commits values, the observed strength of the relationship will decline until it is below the threshold of significance. To it another way, in the case that we do find a spurious correlation, suggesting that banana intake improves mood for instance, one will likely increase their banana intake. Due to the fact that this correlation is spurious, it is unlikely that you will see a continued and persistent corresponding increase in mood. So over time, the spurious correlation will naturally dissipate.

Specificity

Causation is likely if a very specific population at a specific site and disease with no other likely explanation. The more specific an association between a factor and an effect is, the bigger the probability of a causal relationship.

Temporality

The effect has to occur after the cause (and if there is an expected delay between the cause and expected effect, then the effect must occur after that delay). The confidence in a causal relationship is bolstered by the fact that time-precedence was taken into account in all calculations.

Biological Gradient

Greater exposure should generally lead to greater incidence of the effect. However, in some cases, the mere presence of the factor can trigger the effect. In other cases, an inverse proportion is observed: greater exposure leads to lower incidence.

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel.

Based on our responses so far,

0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action for a relationship between Code Commits and Fear.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Code Commits and Fear is coincidental.

Coherence

Coherence between epidemiological and laboratory findings increases the likelihood of an effect. It will be very enlightening to aggregate this data with the data from other participants with similar genetic, diseasomic, environmentomic, and demographic profiles.

Experiment

All of human life can be considered a natural experiment. Occasionally, it is possible to appeal to experimental evidence.

Analogy

The effect of similar factors may be considered.

Plausibility

Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between cause and effect is critical. This is where human brains excel. Based on our responses so far, 0 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action and 0 feel that any relationship observed between Code Commits and Fear is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Code Commits
Effect Variable Name Fear
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.080145197602615
Confidence Level LOW
Confidence Interval 0.30824
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient -0.2431
Critical T Value 1.69
Total Code Commits Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Fear 9.51 event
Total Code Commits Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Fear 19.8 event
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size weakly negative
Number of Paired Measurements 52
Optimal Pearson Product 0.057203153262132
P Value 0.14349
Statistical Significance 0.2089
Strength of Relationship 0.30824
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2021-08-30
Number of Participants 4

Code Commits Info

Property Value
Variable Name Code Commits
Aggregation Method SUM
Analysis Performed At 2021-06-17
Duration of Action 7 days
Filling Value 0
Kurtosis 248.43655329426
Mean 1.0091009148936 event
Median 0.38297872340426 event
Minimum Allowed Value 0 event
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1680
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 128
Number of Measurements 103731
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 103731
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 2.6025070693278
Unit Event
User Variables 51
Variable Category Goals
Variable ID 5955693
Variance 54.388599127586

Fear Info

Property Value
Variable Name Fear
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-09-17
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 3.4116931250559
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.2840202686203 out of 5
Median 2.2359612572647 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1002
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 113
Number of Measurements 22861
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 22709
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.47483589524388
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 1670
UPC 0
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1313
Variance 0.56609015151219

Principal Investigator

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Higher Code Commits Predicts Slightly Lower Fear for Population. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5955693-effect-1313-population-study
BibTeX
@misc{sinn_cause_5955693_effect_1313_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Higher Code Commits Predicts Slightly Lower Fear for Population},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5955693-effect-1313-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 3, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Higher Code Commits Predicts Slightly Lower Fear for Population." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5955693-effect-1313-population-study.