An empirical study of consistency in the judgments of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners regarding taboos for residential space

• Published in: Heliyon 2023-04, Vol.9 (4), p.e15296-e15296, Article e15296
• Main Author: Han, Ke-Tsung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Feng Shui experience; Internal consistency reliability; Residential taboo illustration; Superstition; Test-retest reliability
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15296

Studies of the reliability and validity of Feng Shui using empirical and quantitative methods remain lacking. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to quantitatively examine the consistency of the judgments of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners regarding 108 Feng Shui taboos for residential space. This study also investigates whether these judgments are inconsistent or different with respect to gender, occupation, education, and Feng Shui school. Furthermore, this study examines the effect of time intervals, Feng Shui experience, and the presence or absence of taboo illustrations in the judgments. To perform the study, two questionnaire surveys were conducted at six-month intervals to collect the judgments of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners. A total of 11 Feng Shui scholars and 67 practitioners participated in the first survey, while 10 Feng Shui scholars and 32 practitioners participated in the second survey. The results showed that: (1) Feng Shui scholars and practitioners had very good internal consistency reliability of their judgments regarding residential taboos. There were no significant differences in judgments, regardless of gender, occupation, education, and Feng Shui school; (2) The influence of Feng Shui experience on the judgments of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners as a whole was relatively weak; (3) Although the test-retest reliability of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners was not satisfactory, there were no significant differences between their first and second judgments; and (4) The influence of the illustrations of residential taboos on the judgments of Feng Shui scholars and practitioners as a whole was relatively weak. Although the illustrations had a greater influence on the judgments of Feng Shui practitioners than of scholars, these illustrations did not change their judgments.