Survey Results

    Our group went around campus with the survey and asked twenty two people in person. Writing down their responses instead of collecting them online changed the entire experience. People were more honest in some moments and completely evasive in others. The mix of awkward pauses, confident answers, and accidental admissions said more about deception than the actual questions did.

    The first thing I noticed was how sure everyone was that they could spot a scam. Almost every student claimed they never fall for fake emails or suspicious messages. Then, when we asked how they could tell something was fake, half of them shrugged or guessed. A few said they only know because “it feels off,” which is not a method. It reminded me of how the people in Salem believed they were acting logically while following fear more than evidence.

    When we asked about lying, people softened their language instantly. No one said they lie. They said they “adjust the truth,” “try not to hurt feelings,” or “leave things out.” It showed how people frame their own behavior in the best possible light. The Millerite readings came to mind because the same instinct was there. When the facts get uncomfortable, people reshape the story until it feels acceptable.

    The funniest responses came when we asked about deception on campus. A few students acted like TCU is a perfect bubble where no one lies, cheats, or manipulates anything. Others went the opposite direction and claimed everyone exaggerates or hides something. One person launched into a full theory about how students “catfish” professors by acting more prepared than they are. It felt like a real life mix of our course themes playing out in front of us.

    What I took away from the survey is that people think they understand truth, but their answers change as soon as they have to explain themselves out loud. In person, you cannot hide behind screens or edits. The hesitations, the jokes, the dodged questions, the confident claims with no proof included all of it showed how flexible truth becomes when people are put on the spot.

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