Exploration of transcultural properties of the reduced version of the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system

Abstract

The reduced version of the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) is widely used to study morningness orientation. The fuzzy analysis helps mapping outputs of the questionnaire irrespective of linguistic and cross-cultural aspects in an efficient manner. In the present study, the rMEQ was administered to a convenience sample of university students (N = 2660) in four different countries and responses have been quantified by using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for the cross-cultural comparison and then the quantified values are used to construct the proposed model. The cross-country fuzzy morningness value showed that environmental temperature has definite influence on morningness orientation but other factors may also have a role. The developed model can be universally used to analyse the morning–evening orientation of people more precisely without cross-language and cross-cultural biases and it would become a potential tool for interpretation of morningness scores and counselling of individuals.

Keywords:

• chronotype
• circadian preference
• reduced version of the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ)
• sex
• Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy inference system
• adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge all the University students who volunteered in this study. AB and SS acknowledge the partial financial assistance provided through DST PURSE Programme (Govt. of India) of University of Kalyani in the study.