Come join a study of the social aspects of SL

I disagree, that wasn't a lazy man's survey.

I prefer noobs too. Especially nice ones, still new enough to be starry eyed and excited about SL, and interested in learning what there is to learn, and falling in love with it. The ones who ask questions, accept the answers, and learn. Yeah, I like noobs.

every approach to getting to know SL that does not involve at least 350 hours in-world is lazy.

I could care less about the perceived legitimacy of any survey or it's writers, I don't even base my decisions on how lazy or not the surveyors efforts are.

what I DO care about is what purpose it serves. does it address a useful and actionable issue? is it in any way applicable to improving actual conditions, preferably for me and mine. if it's just about esoteric knowledge, or getting the surveyor through their class or degree program, or attacking a segment of culture me and mine belong to, then you can kindly go piss into the wind.

I don't see this survey meeting the first criteria, and have serious concerns that it meets the second...

Me too! Oh I remember the stars I had in my own eyes when i was new... ahh nostalgia.

its a psyche test i think we're crazy! reminds me of the timei tried totake over public townscape

Oh my - if I knew that people would respond so much to this survey, I would have posted it on a day when I wouldn't be away from the computer for a couple of days.

I want to thank the folks who have taken the survey, and have discussed it here. The research is very important to me, and I appreciate you taking the time. I'll respond to the points you have made now.

Seven, thanks for the feedback.

I get what you're saying about the scale items - both #1 & #2 above. Thanks.

Just so you know, filling out #3 is not required - the informed consent listed the demographic questions I would ask, and explained that all items of the survey are optional. Actually, properly-designed web surveys should always allow you to skip any question - this is in keeping with paper surveys which allow you to skip items, and avoiding potential harm by forcing individuals to respond to questions.

Thanks for explaining this, Treasure! I like your approach, and I definitely like Virtual Ability's cause - I just checked out the website. Best of luck to you, too.

Your post brought up a slightly-related subject, which I've been also interested in - the impact of the introduction of audible conversation on Second Life.

Wow ... this was not what I intended, Void. I actually put them there because I thought they would be easier questions than the ones before it - sort of like a wind-down at the end of the survey. Thanks for letting me know.

Hmm ... perhaps I should have called myself "Visitor". I felt like a tourist because I didn't own property yet in SL, so I wanted to call myself something other than a resident.

Elric, Thanks. Yes, I know that people might use my survey to vent about surveys. And I did do searches of surveys on your forum, as well as others, to understand how people reacted to them. It had seemed that people were frustrated about the quality of the surveys - "My anthro professor told me I had to research SL, so here are 10 questions" sort of thing. I thought providing a well-designed survey might get a different response ... but it seems that I was wrong.

I also had limitations because I was surveying both WoW and SL - I had to find a common denominator of survey delivery between them, and forums appeared to be the clearest option.

If I thought they were synonymous, I would not be comparing them. I'd save myself a lot of trouble to just research one or the other, and then generalize the results to all MMOGs.

The research is hoping to dispell some myths of being identical, or at least identify how SL & WoW social life are alike and how they are different.

If I had to hazard a guess, the confusion might be related to the research on how people that are more similar to you appear more heterogeneous, and that groups of individuals that are dissimilar to you appear more homogenous. I don't have a reference right now, but I can hunt it down if you're interested.

Qie, excellent points. First one is a really fascinating point, and could lead to a huge discussion of the nature of "problematic" vs. "non-problematic" which I can't have yet. Second one is lamentable, but true.

Joshooah,

Actually, this isn't - the study sounds fascinating, but I can't find it on the web - would you send me a URL? What you're describing above also reminds me of Sherry Turkle's work with identity development, as well as Nick Yee's recent work: http://www.nickyee.com/cv.html

My work is standalone, but is an extension of the work done by researchers such as Williams, Caplan, and others.

Ha ha I sense the sympathy, and I appreciate it. Actually, I think folks have been quite reasonable - they've obviously got a bad taste in their mouths around surveys. I'm sorry it took me 3 days to get back here due to travelling - I think people deserved answers sooner.

I don't think the issue is the legitimate nature of the survey but the fact that it's obvious the researcher knows nothing about SL. It's insulting, quite frankly.

It's akin to my joining a forum devoted to French Revolutionary history and then asking a series of surface question, including "how similar is Les Mis to real occurrences", all of which could be answered by taking some time to actually READ and LEARN about the subject.

So the answer is: YES, we want serious examinations and some of us are willing to answer legitimate surveys IF the student has a serious interest and takes the time to LEARN about the subject at hand FIRST.

Egil,

Thanks. I appreciate what you said.

As an aside, I do agree that clinical psychology has some pseudoscientific beliefs, and I have found that frustrating at times as an ex-software engineer. I also think it's going through a revolution right now, and might look very different in the near future.

Thanks, Virrginia - I hoped that this research would have led to a greater understanding of the social life of Second Life, as well as WoW. I did a presentation recently in front of an audience of 100 psychologists about technology, and you should have seen how many experienced psychologists were interested in understanding Second Life.

heh. You know, I sit here pondering the ever present survey and media debacle that surrounds SL and realize something just now: People such as myself are happy to share our experiences, and wish to do so with students and media persons that will present SL in an accurate light. We demand the researcher takes the time to learn SL FIRST or ask for guidance/touring etc.

The reality... by the time a researcher has a true grasp of the SL environment, 3 to 6 months have passed and that's not necessarily time wisely spent. So really, I am being unfair in my demands that researchers learn SL more deeply.

Will the media or researchers ever be able to discuss SL accurately? Perhaps one day when more persons are actually engaged in the virtual world. But not now.

/me is just talking out loud.

PS: To the OP, I do wish you luck with your research because the questions are acceptable although I can't help but groan that fingerpointing will occur soon after to cite SL as the second satanic rising, responsible for strife, and become the scourge of the world. But I do wish you well AND, seriously hope you find more time to be in world, because SL is truly a spectacular place.

This is a really good question, which I can't discuss during the survey. But let me just say that it's a huge question in the research field right now, so your inquiry is right on target.

You know... I just had a thought. How realistic would it be to pair researchers with one or several SL veterans? Like a buddy system? SL mentors have evaporated, but I'm sure that a group of genuinely interested and knowledgeable SL persons could form a group that would be happy to "tell it like it is" for the benefit of researchers and put them on the fast track of understanding.

Here's a press release: http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media_releases/media_releases_archives/media_12090902.html

I will say that your survey is much better designed and introduced than the average 'college student wanting an easy way out of an assignment' and that will get better responses, overall.

There is legitimacy in studying SL and other online venues in order to better understand various social elements. Not only do we get totally swamped by survey requests, where too many are obviously just trying to quickly handle an assignment without putting in much effort, but we are also used to almost complete negative portrayal in the media. Unfortunately that does taint our view of any sort of survey or media interest.

Thanks - at least you seem to be looking at this from the correct angle.

When I was researching surveys a bit yesterday, I came across this other research paper that had been done on MMORPGs back in late 2002. I was impressed with the note that had been added in early 2006 showing that at least some researchers really are open-minded enough to see things a bit differently down the road.

http://www.nickyee.com/hub/addiction/home.html

and more info on the project as a whole here:
http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/
.

Anthony - why is it that the "research" is reduced to a survey only? Because it takes less time? It's been a while since I was studying....but in the old days.....we did actual research.

You said that you spent months developing your survey. A survey that is obviously going to be a huge Fail, based on the comments you received in this thread, and the fact that you seem to be limiting it to forum participants....while a huge population of people are immersed in SL, that never come to forum. But if all you need, is to get through your course of study....without actual facts.....but just a completed project......no biggie. Done.

In another thread, you mention researchers "who wish to support the SL".......what exactly does that mean? Support in what way? By evaluating information inaccurately.....then tossing it out to the general public?

It takes about two hours to create a "character".....if you have someone guiding you inworld.....and people love guiding someone. Within about 3 more hours.....you can become totally immersed, and your character takes on a life of their own.....defined. Proceed from there. Or....you can go in as "yourself"....and study from that angle....huge section of the population contributes in this way.

The immersion can happen very quickly.....rapid pace, here. That couple of months that you spent developing your survey, could have been spent in immersion. Plus....you would have a pretty accurate picture of what goes on....an education that goes far beyond a survey limits. During those months you could have developed half a dozen other characters to get an even broader grasp. The time it takes to respond to this thread......yet another character could have delved into the real aspects.

During that time....you will most likely experience any "problematic" behaviors first hand. Very few are going to want to admit to those behaviors, and plug them into a survey.

What's important to you at the completion of your studies? That you found facts and info and presented it effectively? Genuine enlightenment? Or simply that you completed the task? I've offered many times to help a surveyor immerse and get real facts....not once have they taken me up on the offer. Probably because their project was due in a few weeks, and they already wasted their allotted time on battling with a failed survey. Same offer to you....unless your project is due next week, and your time allotment is gone.

I swear....you guys with these surveys, make me want to go back and finish the master's in psych.....and complete a REAL study. Thanks for the motivation.