CORE-15 is a 15-question psychological self-assessment web application designed as a structured self-reflection tool. It measures three distinct domains of human functioning: Thinking Clarity, Moral Reasoning, and Recent Actions.
Note: CORE-15 is an instrument for self-reflection and ongoing psychological research. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool.
The CORE-15 questionnaire was developed to provide users with a snapshot of their current cognitive and ethical alignment. By measuring clarity of thought, the strength of moral frameworks, and the consistency of recent behavior, the tool highlights potential "blind spots" or gaps between stated values and actual actions.
Anonymous response data is collected to facilitate the ongoing research, validation, and calibration of the CORE-15 instrument.
- 15-Question Assessment: A streamlined, Likert-scale questionnaire.
- Multidimensional Scoring: Quantitative measurement across three domains:
- Thinking Clarity: Intellectual honesty and cognitive flexibility.
- Moral Reasoning: Ethical framework and consideration of others.
- Recent Actions: Behavioral consistency over the last 30 days.
- Dynamic Profile Assignment: Calculation of one of 8 distinct psychological profiles based on score combinations.
- Conflict Detector: Algorithmic warnings triggered by specific scoring imbalances (e.g., high ethics but low action alignment).
- Anonymous Data Collection: Seamless, privacy-respecting storage in MongoDB Atlas.
- User Feedback Loop: Integrated agreement/disagreement system with optional qualitative feedback.
- Automated Bot Protection: Multi-layer security including honeypots and time-based response validation.
- Frontend: HTML5, Tailwind CSS (Styling), Vanilla JavaScript (Logic & Transitions)
- Backend: Node.js, Vercel Serverless Functions
- Database: MongoDB Atlas via Mongoose
- Deployment: Vercel
CORE-15/
├── api/
│ └── submit.js # Vercel Serverless API (POST/PATCH)
├── public/
│ └── index.html # Main SPA Frontend
├── vercel.json # Routing & Function configuration
├── package.json # Node dependencies (Mongoose)
├── .env.example # Template for Environment Variables
└── README.md # Project documentation
- Node.js (v18 or later)
- A MongoDB Atlas cluster (or local MongoDB instance)
- A Vercel account (optional, for deployment)
-
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/DevwithAnTic/core-15.git cd core-15 -
Install dependencies
npm install
-
Configure Environment Variables Rename
.env.exampleto.envand add your connection string:MONGODB_URI=mongodb+srv://<user>:<password>@cluster.mongodb.net/core15
-
Run the application You can serve the
public/index.htmlfile using any local server (e.g., Live Server in VS Code). To test the API functionality locally, use the Vercel CLI:vercel dev
The assessment consists of 3 sections with 5 questions each. Users respond on a 5-point Likert scale (1: Strongly Disagree to 5: Strongly Agree).
- Section A & B: Scored directly (Higher = Higher Alignment).
- Section C (Recent Actions): Reverse-scored to measure harmful behavior patterns. Higher scores reflect actions more aligned with prosocial values.
| Profile Label | Thinking Clarity | Moral Reasoning | Recent Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated | High (≥20) | High (≥20) | High (≥20) |
| Aware but Conflicted | High (≥20) | High (≥20) | Low (<20) |
| Pragmatic | High (≥20) | Low (<20) | High (≥20) |
| Principled but Unreflective | Low (<20) | High (≥20) | High (≥20) |
| Detached | High (≥20) | Low (<20) | Low (<20) |
| Reactive | Low (<20) | Low (<20) | High (20) |
| Idealistic but Inconsistent | Low (<20) | High (≥20) | Low (<20) |
| Fragmented | Low (<20) | Low (<20) | Low (<20) |
CORE-15 is committed to absolute anonymity.
What we store:
- A UTC timestamp of submission.
- The raw array of 15 numerical responses.
- Calculated scores and the assigned profile label.
- User agreement status and optional feedback text.
What we NEVER store:
- IP Addresses
- Email addresses or names
- Device fingerprinting data
- Browser cookies
Purpose: Data is collected for the ongoing statistical validation of the CORE-15 instrument and may be utilized in future academic research and psychometric publications.
- Initial Validation: Acquire 300+ diverse responses for baseline calibration.
- Reliability Testing: Perform Cronbach’s alpha analysis for internal consistency.
- Factor Analysis: Confirm the independence of the three measured domains.
- Academic Publication: Submit findings for peer review regarding digital-first self-reflection instruments.
We welcome contributions from psychologists, psychometricians, and developers.
- Fork the Project
- Create your Feature Branch (
git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature) - Commit your Changes (
git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature') - Push to the Branch (
git push origin feature/AmazingFeature) - Open a Pull Request
Distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See LICENSE for more information.
CORE-15 is not a clinical diagnostic tool. The results are based on self-reporting and are intended for personal reflection and research purposes only. This assessment should not be used as a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment.