Higher Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Predicts Very Slightly Lower Interest for Population
Contents

Variables

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Efficiency Score From Rescuetime 3196
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Interest 1116

Categories

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Goals 126
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Emotions 2028

Actions

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Your Data

Tags

Medium Confidence
Very Weak Effect Size
Negative Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 1.8% average increase in Interest following above average Efficiency Score From Rescuetime.
Abstract

Abstract

Interest was generally 4% higher than average after an average of 45.4 percent of Efficiency Score From Rescuetime over the previous 7 days.

Aggregated data from 6 study participants suggests with a MEDIUM degree of confidence (p=0.139, 95% CI -0.433 to 0.402) that Efficiency Score From Rescuetime has a very weakly negative predictive relationship (R=-0.0154) with Interest.

The highest quartile of Interest measurements were observed following an average 50.9 percent Efficiency Score From Rescuetime.

The lowest quartile of Interest measurements were observed following an average 53.7 percent of Efficiency Score From Rescuetime.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Interest is typically 4% lower than average over the 7 days following around 53.7 percent Efficiency Score From Rescuetime.

Objective

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Efficiency Score From Rescuetime and Interest. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Efficiency Score From Rescuetime values most likely to produce optimal Interest values.
Participant Instructions

Participant Instructions

Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Automatic Import of Efficiency Score From Rescuetime via RescueTime

A Get RescueTime here and use it to record your Efficiency Score From Rescuetime. Then, A import your data here .

Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Efficiency Score From Rescuetime here and record it daily by enabling notifications or using A the reminder inbox here .


Manual Recording Option

A Create a reminder for Interest 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 6 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 6 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

Data Analysis

Data Analysis

Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Pre-Processing

No minimum allowed measurement value was defined for Efficiency Score From Rescuetime. No maximum allowed measurement value was defined for Efficiency Score From Rescuetime. No missing data filling value was defined for Efficiency Score From Rescuetime so any gaps in data were just not analyzed instead of assuming zero values for those times.

Interest Pre-Processing

Interest measurement values below 1 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. Interest measurement values above 5 out of 5 were assumed erroneous and removed. No missing data filling value was defined for Interest 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 Efficiency Score From Rescuetime would produce an observable change in Interest.

It was assumed that Efficiency Score From Rescuetime could produce an observable change in Interest 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 Interest is not statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. This suggests that the Efficiency Score From Rescuetime value does not have a significant influence on the Interest value.

Data Sources

Data Sources

Efficiency Score From Rescuetime data was primarily collected using RescueTime. Detailed reports show which applications and websites you spent time on. Activities are automatically grouped into pre-defined categories with built-in productivity scores covering thousands of websites and applications. You can customize categories and productivity scores to meet your needs.

Interest 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 very weakly negative (R = -0.0154) relationship between Efficiency Score From Rescuetime and Interest.

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. 104 paired data points were used in this analysis. Assuming that the relationship is merely coincidental, as the participant independently modifies their Efficiency Score From Rescuetime 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,

1 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action for a relationship between Efficiency Score From Rescuetime and Interest.

0 humans feel that any relationship observed between Efficiency Score From Rescuetime and Interest 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, 1 humans feel that there is a plausible mechanism of action and 0 feel that any relationship observed between Efficiency Score From Rescuetime and Interest is coincidental.

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Efficiency Score From Rescuetime
Effect Variable Name Interest
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.45813666467248
Confidence Level MEDIUM
Confidence Interval 0.41773182195462
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient -0.0154
Critical T Value 1.6918333333333
Average Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Interest 50.9 percent
Average Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Interest 53.7 percent
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size very weakly negative
Number of Paired Measurements 104
Optimal Pearson Product 0.11014252502791
P Value 0.13873886788757
Statistical Significance 0.3717
Strength of Relationship 0.41773182195462
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2021-08-30
Number of Participants 6

Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Info

Property Value
Variable Name Efficiency Score From Rescuetime
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2022-08-12
Duration of Action 7 days
Kurtosis 2.8950328674772
Mean 49.4088875 percent
Median 50.140875 percent
Number of Aggregate Predictors 3036
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 160
Number of Measurements 3557
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 3557
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 18.807714053283
Unit Percent
User Variables 83
UPC 0
Variable Category Goals
Variable ID 5956874
Variance 387.41867577137

Interest Info

Property Value
Variable Name Interest
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-10-11
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 1.7272696492406
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.6249221665872 out of 5
Median 2.6086223891273 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1004
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 112
Number of Measurements 22487
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 22416
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.52915160502345
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 1438
UPC 0
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1356
Variance 0.57705976921701

Principal Investigator

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Higher Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Predicts Very Slightly Lower Interest for Population. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5956874-effect-1356-population-study
BibTeX
@misc{sinn_cause_5956874_effect_1356_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Higher Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Predicts Very Slightly Lower Interest for Population},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5956874-effect-1356-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 3, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Higher Efficiency Score From Rescuetime Predicts Very Slightly Lower Interest for Population." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 3, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-5956874-effect-1356-population-study.