So you want to post a survey?

I want to gather tips for posters of surveys... Something like this OUGHT to be a sticky. I may roll up your suggestions into this post.

1. YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T. (Don't say you weren't warned!) We get asked to do countless surveys, sometimes several a day. So you are likely to be as welcome as a telemarketer who calls in the middle of dinner.

But if you *must* post a survey, please read on.

2. BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR MOTIVATION. If it's a marketing survey, don't think we won't notice. Let us know the purpose of the survey so we don't need to find out.

If you're cagey or coy, one of us may fill in random answers simply to see what your survey is about. They aren't being rude; they want to see what you're up to so they can tell the rest of us.

3. IF YOU CLAIM TO BE AN ACADEMIC, or if you assert professional credentials or affiliations with any organization, expect those assertions to be verified.

4. EXPECT FEEDBACK. You are posting to a *forum*, after all. If you know little or nothing about Second Life, you may find your survey invalidated.

5. GET SOME EXPERIENCE OF SECOND LIFE. If you created an account only to post a survey here, if you have never entered Second Life and interacted with its residents, please do so. Your ignorance will be apparent.

6. DON'T EXPECT US TO DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU. Try to make your questions specific and clear. If you haven't done your research and want us to fill in the gaps, you may get your answers but you may also run off crying.

7. IT'S NOT WORLD OF WARCRAFT. If you bundle up WOW and SL as if they were identical, you are bound to stumble.


And... as a final note: if you sincerely want our help, you might consider posting your survey for *review* before asking us to fill it out. Most of us are here to help others. We can help you as well, if you ask nicely. Just be prepared to take a few hits... and don't be afraid to give as good as you get.

Religion And Abortion For The Win!

Damn, did I post a bingo category?

Fixt

Hahahaha!

Those ARE great points however.

Don't.

^
|

This.

You forgot pie.

No, Key invited me to dinner the other day.

Pie (I think that's what she said anyway)

/me blinks

Key ~ Just a thought . . . possibly what would really help someone in the survey process is for the potential survey taker to ask for a review of the materials before posting them.

How that would look in a concrete process, I have not the foggiest, but there are many critical thinkers who could provide constructive criticism. Heading off problems/ridicule before posting may not be as much fun for us, but the surveyor may appreciate the feedback.

I think you're right.

In fact, I think a surveyor who was open could learn a lot here.

I will work on the wording and add it above.

As far as the mechanism or process, I think:

- there could be a separate forum for surveys

- one forum under "surveys" would simply be announcements of surveys. They couldn't be commented on. This would spare the surveyors their blushes, and surveys would quickly fall off the first page. At the same time, people who like to do surveys or are willing to do surveys could find them all in one place.

- a second forum under "surveys" could be requests for reviews. A surveyor posts his or her survey and asks for comments

in that way, they willing put their heads in the lion's mouth.

Of course, it's all just a dream...

The lion's mouth is what peer review is all about. If the person is unwilling to undergo such a review, then either their arrogance will do them in or the true nature of their survey will be apparent.

Martin L. King had a dream too . . .

A bump for this most excellent thread and pertinent thread.

[/QUOTE] In fact, I think a surveyor who was open could learn a lot here.


- a second forum under "surveys" could be requests for reviews. A surveyor posts his or her survey and asks for comments

in that way, they willing put their heads in the lion's mouth.

Of course, it's all just a dream...[/QUOTE]


I would love to get some of you to review my survey. I am aware that the fact that I have never posted a message here means that I may lose all possible cred, but I'm hoping that I've had an account for a while may (perhaps) even it out, or at least make someone willing to check it out. It's for my dissertation (how unusual) although it is hosted at survey monkey.

A link to the survey is below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QOfIzb0_2fIBcgaQpCuTmcfA_3d_3d

It is about gender swapping.

Any feedback is welcome, as is feedback on questions that you wish I had asked, etc. Let the head-crushing begin.

A.W.

"this survey takes 10 minutes and you get X L$ afterwards"

I always wonder when I see those: how many people just click on answers on those just to get to the money?

Aryk -

That was the best formulated survey I have seen on here.

You've added questions so that someone who does not gender swap can take the survey, and you can gather data from that. Most survey questions are directed in a manner that if you can not relate to the survey in any way....your answers are going to screw up the results. Not really sure how to explain that effectively....I'm sure you know what I mean.

Tip: This is a necropost...most are going to skip it. Plus, you've inserted your request as a post, rather than a thread header. Your research and quality of survey deserve to be addressed in a separate post.

I would love to know what your results are....or what conclusions you come to....I have discussed this topic rather heatedly with a few friends and lost them over it....it's very important. I think it's very important to others as well.

Don't worry about what kind of flack you get over requesting participation. Just one of those things.

Mickey --

Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate that the concern I took in formulating the survey came across to you. I wanted to make the survey accessible to everyone, as I am going to need sizable numbers of residents both who do and do not gender swap to take the survey.

As for the tip and the encouragement to proceed. Again, thank you. My sense from reading posts is that according to the terms of service it may not be allowed for people to ask users to take a survey, so I am wanting to research that before going ahead and posting. When my academic and clinical schedule remits a bit, I will be able to explore that more fully. This was more like just sticking a toe into the water and seeing if there were any nibbles.

If you are interested in seeing results of the survey, please feel free to email me at [email]kgrosman@wi.edu[/email] with Second Life Survey in the subject line. I will be more than happy to send you results when I get/crunch them. I must warn you, however, that I am in the beginning stages of gathering research, so it may be anywhere between 6 months to a year before this turns into usable information.

A.W.