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LF volunteers to help with my research paper

GealachGealach Registered User regular
edited January 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
edit 1/6/10 - Wow, this thread is still around. It's been about a year since I posted a request for volunteers to complete a survey for my grad school assignment. I completed my research and finished my paper last February and I intended to have it published in a peer-reviewed journal of some sort. Well, between graduating, starting a new job, and hurrying to catch up to my level 80 friends in WoW, I lost all momentum. I realized that if I didn’t self-publish the results I’d never get this information out there.

So, if you’re interested, you can read my graduate research paper here: www.cindygreenan.com/socialcapitalofmmos. There’s also a “TLDR” version if you want to just see a bunch of colorful graphs of the most interesting results.

Thank you to everyone that participated. I received an amazing number of responses and I’m really grateful. I hope you enjoy reading my analysis.

P.S.
This survey left me feeling like an anti-social hermit.

Thank you graduate student. Thank you very much.
I hope this makes you feel better.




Original post:
I've been a member of a couple of different MMOs for several years. My experiences have become the inspiration for a research project that I need to complete for school. Who knew homework could be fun? ;)

As part of my graduate degree in Library and Information Studies, I need to write a research paper, and I've chosen to study the social interactions of groups within MMOs. I am asking for volunteers to complete a survey about their experiences in virtual worlds/MMOs so that I can compare the results to the real world.

If you are 18 years or older and have been a member of an MMO for more than 3 months, please take a moment to complete the survey: http://sites.google.com/site/socialcapitalofmmos/

Thanks for your time.

Gealach on

Posts

  • AtomBombAtomBomb Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Sure. I used to play FFXI and WoW, but I quit 2 years ago or so. Filled it out based on how I was when I was playing.

    AtomBomb on
    I just got a 3DS XL. Add me! 2879-0925-7162
  • TrusTrus Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done

    Trus on
    qFN53.png
  • Richard_DastardlyRichard_Dastardly Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    This survey left me feeling like an anti-social hermit.

    Thank you graduate student. Thank you very much.

    Richard_Dastardly on
  • AegisAegis Fear My Dance Overshot Toronto, Landed in OttawaRegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done, done!

    Aegis on
    We'll see how long this blog lasts
    Currently DMing: None :(
    Characters
    [5e] Dural Melairkyn - AC 18 | HP 40 | Melee +5/1d8+3 | Spell +4/DC 12
  • tzieltziel Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Just finished

    tziel on
  • XaiokXaiok Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Completed it for you as well.

    Xaiok on
  • SolandraSolandra Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    done!

    Solandra on
  • Dark MoonDark Moon Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done. It made me very glad I'm no longer actively playing EVE.

    Dark Moon on
    3072973561_de17a80845_o.jpg
  • Kate of LokysKate of Lokys Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done.

    I used these very boards to write my own paper involving social capital last year! Yay for internet research.

    Kate of Lokys on
  • proXimityproXimity Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done

    proXimity on
    camo_sig2.png
  • lizard eats flieslizard eats flies Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done.
    One nitpick from an otherwise good survey. One of the questions was something about meeting online friends in real life. This one threw me because there are a lot of people I play with online who I knew in real life before I started playing (college friends, coworkers). The question was sort of ambiguous as to whether or not they should be counted.

    lizard eats flies on
  • GealachGealach Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Thanks for all the responses so far! And sorry for making you feel antisocial ;) Honestly, I was surprised at the national responses to the generalized survey - you may not be as antisocial as you think.

    As for the nitpick, I apologize for the ambiguity. I modeled the questions as closely as possible to an existing survey so that it will be easier to compare the results. When I discuss the limitations in my analysis, one of the problems I intend to mention is the fact that I can not be there to clarify any confusion such as yours. That's one of several problems with internet surveys.

    Gealach on
  • RedDawnRedDawn Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done.
    One nitpick from an otherwise good survey. One of the questions was something about meeting online friends in real life. This one threw me because there are a lot of people I play with online who I knew in real life before I started playing (college friends, coworkers). The question was sort of ambiguous as to whether or not they should be counted.

    Same here, over all it was a well done survey.

    RedDawn on
  • lizard eats flieslizard eats flies Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Gealach wrote: »
    Thanks for all the responses so far! And sorry for making you feel antisocial ;) Honestly, I was surprised at the national responses to the generalized survey - you may not be as antisocial as you think.

    As for the nitpick, I apologize for the ambiguity. I modeled the questions as closely as possible to an existing survey so that it will be easier to compare the results. When I discuss the limitations in my analysis, one of the problems I intend to mention is the fact that I can not be there to clarify any confusion such as yours. That's one of several problems with internet surveys.

    An interesting thing I noticed relating to this. There was the one question where you stated the actual question, worded in 'survey language' and then right after you said "what im looking for here is ..."
    I actually really liked that because it helped me answer the question honestly to give you the data you were looking for, as opposed to just answering the letter of the question.

    Also, can I request that, once you are done with your survey/paper that you post your findings back here?

    lizard eats flies on
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited November 2008
    Just finished, and I would also like to see the findings when you're done. :)

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • GealachGealach Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    An interesting thing I noticed relating to this. There was the one question where you stated the actual question, worded in 'survey language' and then right after you said "what im looking for here is ..."
    I actually really liked that because it helped me answer the question honestly to give you the data you were looking for, as opposed to just answering the letter of the question.

    I didn't add more of that because that wasn't actually my wording. All of the questions that don't pertain exclusively to virtual worlds were copied word for word from the General Social Survey. You can google it to see how you compare to America at large (but please do so AFTER taking my survey so it doesn't effect your responses. ;-) ) Most of the MMO questions were either slightly modified GSS questions, modeled after Nick Yee's research, or completely made up by me. There are very few of the latter type of question though.

    I would have liked to change the wording of some of the questions, but I was concerned about changing the meaning and therefore changing the reliability of the results when compared to the GSS.

    Also, to those of you wishing to see the final product, please email the address I listed on that site. I can't guarantee you'll get a response otherwise.

    Gealach on
  • ZyreZyre Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Completed.

    Zyre on
  • LiiyaLiiya Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done, I'd like to see the findings too :D

    Liiya on
  • SiskaSiska Shorty Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    This question will look odd since you asked us to answer all the questions as if we were currently active.

    11. Now think about your closest friend in the MMO. How often do you see this person online?

    I used to have some close friend in an MMO a decade ago. Peas in a pod. But after I left that MMO we lost touch. So the survey says I have several online friends I NEVER see online. :D

    Siska on
  • ApexMirageApexMirage Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Done and done

    ApexMirage on
    I'd love to be the one disappoint you when I don't fall down
  • GealachGealach Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Wow, this thread is still around. It's been about a year since I posted a request for volunteers to complete a survey for my grad school assignment. I completed my research and finished my paper last February and I intended to have it published in a peer-reviewed journal of some sort. Well, between graduating, starting a new job, and hurrying to catch up to my level 80 friends in WoW, I lost all momentum. I realized that if I didn’t self-publish the results I’d never get this information out there.

    So, if you’re interested, you can read my graduate research paper here: www.cindygreenan.com/socialcapitalofmmos. There’s also a “TLDR” version if you want to just see a bunch of colorful graphs of the most interesting results.

    Thank you to everyone that participated. I received an amazing number of responses and I’m really grateful. I hope you enjoy reading my analysis.

    P.S.
    This survey left me feeling like an anti-social hermit.

    Thank you graduate student. Thank you very much.
    I hope this makes you feel better.

    Gealach on
  • SteevSteev What can I do for you? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    As a fellow MLS holder, let me just say that this was a far more interesting project than anything I ever did in library school. I am pretty sure I participated in the survey. I only just skimmed the TLDR version, though.

    Steev on
  • GealachGealach Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yeah, I'm really glad I found this topic because I don't think I could have written a long paper about something that didn't interest me. Thanks for your interest!

    Gealach on
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited January 2010
    Thanks for coming back to post your data. :)

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • Fuzzy Cumulonimbus CloudFuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Congratulations on writing a fantastic paper. Very interesting, especially the dichotomy of actual altruism/trusting and perception of trust. Neat!

    Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud on
  • GealachGealach Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    There were a few results like that that I found fascinating. I almost want to continue the research and explore topics like that some more... but one paper was enough for me I think. =)

    Gealach on
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